Little Fyrish Monument

Drive up towards Dingwall and you'll spot this thing looming on the ridge - a folly so peculiar it's almost charming. The Little Fyrish Monument is basically a mock castle gate that someone built in 1782, presumably because they had money and absolutely no better ideas. It's genuinely tiny, which is probably why it's called "Little". You get a short walk up the hillside - twenty minutes or so - and the view across the Cromarty Firth sprawls out properly impressive. The monument itself is more amusing than awe-inspiring: a rambling stone arch with barely enough room to photograph yourself inside without looking daft. History buffs will find it a bit thin, truth be told. But for families staying at Blackrock Caravan Park, it's an easy afternoon excursion that doesn't require serious planning or gear. The walk is straightforward, the views are genuine, and there's something oddly satisfying about bagging a pointless eighteenth-century structure. Kids will get bored standing around it for long, but the scramble up and the chance to feel like they've conquered something makes it worth the petrol. On a clear day it's quite good. On a grey one - which, let's be honest, is most days up here - it's rather grey too. Free, obviously. No facilities, so sort yourself out in Dingwall first.