Falcon Square Mercat Cross

The Mercat Cross stands in Falcon Square like a proper anchor to Inverness's medieval past. It's a sturdy stone structure that marks where markets once thrived and justice was dispensed - a focal point of the old town that's easy to miss if you're rushing past on your way to the castle.

What you're actually looking at is a 17th-century reconstruction, which feels honest rather than disappointing. The cross itself is unadorned, functional even, but that's the point. For history types, this spot tells you more about how Inverness actually worked than any plaque in a museum. Markets happened here. Proclamations were read here. People gathered.

It takes five minutes to walk around it properly, maybe ten if you're reading every inscription and imagining the chaos of a working market square. Not a day-long proposition, but worthwhile if you're already exploring Inverness town centre - the castle is within walking distance, and the riverside is lovely for stretching your legs after.

With caravan parks like Ardtower and Bunchrew within three miles, you could base yourself nearby and use Inverness as your hub. The Mercat Cross fits perfectly into a morning wandering the old streets before heading out to Loch Ness or the glens. Free to visit, no faffing about with opening hours. Just there, like it has been for centuries.