The Hermitage (National Trust for Scotland)

You'll find yourself standing in front of a small but genuinely atmospheric stone building tucked into woodland near Dunkeld, where a 18th-century hermit actually lived. The Hermitage - or Ossian's Hall as it's also known - sits perched above the River Tay, and the whole thing feels properly isolated, which is rather the point. Inside, the walls are decorated with mirrors and shells in that oddly charming way Georgians had of arranging things, meant to create an illusion of wilderness from a controlled space. There's something quite moving about it, if you don't mind the slightly damp air and low ceilings.

Historians and anyone with a penchant for 18th-century follies will find it genuinely worthwhile. It's not going to keep young children entertained for hours - you're looking at fifteen minutes inside, maybe half an hour if you linger and explore the woodland paths around it. The real appeal lies in the walk through the estate and the oddness of the place itself: a deliberate retreat from society built by someone who actually wanted to be a hermit, or at least play at being one.

Being managed by the National Trust for Scotland, you can expect proper access and maintenance. The nearby Inver Mill Farm Caravan Park sits less than a mile away, making this an easy afternoon slot during a park-based holiday. Combine it with a wander along the Tay or a visit to Dunkeld itself - the whole area rewards gentle exploration rather than a rushed tick-box visit.