Dun's Dish

The walk up to Dun's Dish from Arbroath takes you through proper Highland moorland, and when you crest the hill, you're suddenly looking down into a genuine geological oddity. It's a circular basin - almost a crater - filled with dark water, surrounded by steep banks that drop away on all sides. The locals reckon it was carved out by glacial meltwater in the last ice age, and standing there, you can absolutely believe it.

This isn't a destination for splashing about or picnicking on manicured grass. It's a walker's spot, especially for anyone interested in geology or upland landscapes. The basin itself is inaccessible - there's no path down to the water's edge - but that's rather the point. You come here to look, to photograph, to understand how the land was shaped. Most people spend twenty minutes, thirty if you're the type to sit and think.

The hike from Arbroath takes about an hour each way, depending on fitness. There's a decent track most of the way, though it can be boggy after rain. No facilities at the top, so bring water. It's free to visit, and there's no fixed season - though early autumn when the heather's in bloom and midges are fewer is rather splendid.

If you're staying at Royal Arch Riverside Park, this makes a cracking half-day excursion to break up a holiday. Don't expect a famous landmark or visitor facilities - you get honest Scottish upland and a proper sense of geological time.