Old Inverlochy Castle

The ruins of Old Inverlochy Castle sit on a flat plain just outside Fort William, four sturdy walls that have survived centuries of Highland weather. You'll spot it from the A82 heading north - a proper square fortress dating back to the 13th century, built by the Comyn family when they ruled these lands. It's the sort of place where you can walk right up to the walls and feel the weight of medieval Scotland without any velvet rope nonsense getting in the way.

The castle itself won't take long to explore - maybe twenty minutes if you're thorough, less if you're just after a quick look and a photo. What makes it worth the stop is the setting. You're standing on the banks of the River Lochy with Ben Nevis looming behind you, and on a clear day the view proper justifies the detour. Families with young kids get a kick out of scrambling around the ruins, though there's not much to actually do once you've had a poke about inside. History buffs will appreciate the Jacobite connections - this is where Montrose defeated the Covenanters in 1645 - but you'll want to come prepared with some background reading, as there's no interpretation on site.

It's free to access and open whenever you fancy, which is refreshingly straightforward. If you're staying at Ben Nevis Holiday Park or Glen Nevis Caravan Park just down the road, this makes an easy fifteen-minute detour during a longer walk exploring Fort William. Worth a stop, definitely. Worth planning your whole trip around? Not quite.