Beauly Church

The ruins of Beauly Church stand in the centre of the village like a reminder that beauty doesn't require a roof. Built in the 13th century by French monks, this Valliscaulian priory is a proper atmospheric ruin - especially when the light's right and you can see the stonework detail in the walls.

What you're looking at are the remains of the nave, choir, and transepts. The west window is striking even in its broken state, and if you walk around the back you'll spot where the cloister once sat. It's free to wander round, which is just as well because it won't take more than twenty minutes unless you're seriously into ecclesiastical architecture.

Histoy enthusiasts will get a kick out of it. Families with young kids will manage half that time before asking if there's anything else to do. For walkers passing through the Highlands, it's worth the five-minute detour off the main road - you're in Beauly already, so you might as well.

The church sits right in the village centre, making it dead easy to combine with a cup of tea or a wander round the local shops. If you're staying at Beauly Holiday Park just up the road, it's a pleasant stroll. Less convenient from Highland Premier Glamping Pods or Bunchrew Caravan Park, but neither are far if you're planning a bigger day out round the area. Go on a dry day - the ground gets boggy.