Hermit's Castle

Perched above the moorland near Sutherland, this peculiar stone tower stands as a monument to one man's eccentric vision. Built in the 1960s by a self-described hermit, it's a structure that divides opinion - some see romantic solitude, others see a rather stark pile of rocks with a view.

You can walk up to it, peer through the windows, and appreciate the Highland vistas that stretch out across the landscape. The castle itself is modest - more folly than fortress - but the real draw is the journey. It takes roughly twenty minutes on foot from the nearest parking area, which means it filters out the casual drive-by tourists. You'll know if you're interested before you arrive.

This is better suited to walkers and landscape photographers than families hunting for interactive attractions. Children under ten will likely lose patience before the payoff. The exposed moorland means weather matters - go on a clear day or don't bother. Free to visit, naturally, since there's nothing to staff.

If you're staying at Clachtoll Beach Campsite nearby, it makes a decent half-day outing when the weather holds. Combine it with a proper walk across the surrounding hills rather than treating it as a destination in itself. The tower is the excuse, but the landscape is the reward. Worth a detour if you're already in Sutherland exploring, but don't rearrange your itinerary just for this.