Dornoch Castle

The castle dominates Dornoch's main street, a sturdy sandstone fortress that's been the seat of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland since the 13th century. Walk round the back and you'll find it's part residential, part historical monument - they've converted it into a hotel, so it's still very much a working building rather than a museum piece frozen in time.

You can't exactly wander through at will, but the exterior tells most of the story: thick walls, crenellations, the kind of defensive architecture that meant business. The castle's had a rough ride over the centuries - it was torched by a mob in 1570, besieged during the Civil War, and rebuilt more times than you can count. Standing here now, looking across to the cathedral ruins next door, you get a proper sense of Dornoch as a place that mattered.

Historyfiends will find it worth the twenty-minute walk from the caravan parks. If you're staying at Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park, it's practically on your doorstep. Families with young kids might find the exterior alone enough - there's not masses to do unless you're booking a night's stay at the hotel itself.

Best time to visit is when the light's good and the crowds are thin. Early morning in spring or autumn works well. The castle's free to view from outside, and it gives you a genuine flavour of Highland aristocracy without the museum ticket price.