Temple of Apollo

The Temple of Apollo sits on a hillside near Newbridge, and it's one of those odd Scottish landmarks that catches you completely off guard. Built in the 1700s as a folly - basically a wealthy landowner's vanity project - it's a proper neoclassical structure that looks like it's been transplanted from ancient Greece into the Lowlands. You get a decent walk up to it through farmland, and once you're there, the views back across the valley are genuinely worth the effort.

It functions as a small gallery space, though calling it that might oversell things a touch. What you'll find inside depends largely on what's on show when you visit - local artists tend to use it for rotating exhibitions, so it's more variable than your standard museum experience. History enthusiasts will appreciate the folly itself more than anything else; the architecture and the sheer oddness of its existence tells you plenty about 18th-century Scottish gentry and their tastes.

If you're staying at Linwater Caravan Park, you're practically on the doorstep - less than half a mile away. It's a cracking spot for an afternoon walk with the family, though you won't want to budget more than 90 minutes total unless the current exhibition really grabs you. Check ahead on what's showing before you go; it's the sort of place that can be either brilliant or a bit of a letdown depending on timing. The walk is easy enough for reasonably fit kids, and the hilltop location makes it feel like more of an adventure than it actually is.