Woodend

Woodend sits just outside Perth as one of those archaeological sites that rewards a bit of detective work. It's a Roman fortlet - essentially a small military outpost from when the Romans were pushing through Scotland - and what you're looking at is the earthwork remains of what was once a properly defended position.

The site itself is fairly subtle. You won't find dramatic stone walls or obvious structures; instead, you're reading the landscape. The defensive ditches are still visible if you know where to look, and there's something rather satisfying about standing where Roman soldiers actually stood two thousand years ago. History types will get a real kick out of this. Families with young kids might find it a bit abstract unless they're already into archaeology - it's not the sort of place where a five-year-old suddenly understands what they're looking at.

There's no visitor centre or facilities that I'm aware of, so you'll need to be fairly self-sufficient. A good OS map and some basic knowledge of what you're seeing makes all the difference. It's the sort of stop that works brilliantly if you're already exploring Perthshire rather than a dedicated trip in itself.

If you're camped at Perth Caravan Park or Scone Camping and Caravanning Club Site - both just a couple of miles away - you could easily incorporate it into a morning walk. Pair it with other Roman sites in the area or the town of Perth itself, and you've got a proper day's exploring on your hands.