Castle of Mey Gardens

The gardens at Castle of Mey sprawl across the clifftops near Thurso, and they're genuinely striking - not the manicured formal stuff you might expect, but something altogether wilder. The castle itself is the real draw for history buffs; it's got proper royal connections and the rooms tell a story that feels lived-in rather than museumed-up.

What actually happens here is a mix of touring the building and wandering the grounds. The views across the Pentland Firth are the sort that make you understand why someone bothered building a castle in such an exposed corner of Scotland. On a clear day you can see across to Orkney. The gardens themselves are laid back - flower borders, kitchen gardens, that sort of thing - and they make sense given the howling winds you'll face up here.

It's the sort of place that works best for visitors with a genuine interest in Scottish heritage and royal history. Families might find an hour's worth of content here if the kids are patient; younger ones could get restless. Allow a solid two hours if you want to actually read the information boards and not just rush through.

If you're camping at Little Croft Highlands nearby, this makes an easy morning visit before heading inland. The admission situation changes seasonally, so check ahead - it's not always open, and when it is, there's usually a fee. Go in summer when the light lasts forever and the weather's at its least aggressive.