Pitlochry Fish Ladder

Salmon leap up a series of concrete pools like Olympic high jumpers trying to clear a bar. That's the Pitlochry Fish Ladder - a straightforward bit of hydro engineering that somehow never gets old to watch. Built alongside the River Tummel dam back in the 1950s, it lets Atlantic salmon fight their way upstream during spawning season, and the sheer determination on display is oddly compelling. You'll stand on an observation platform looking down into the pools, watching these muscular fish hurl themselves upward again and again until one finally makes the jump. Spring and early summer are prime viewing months, though autumn runs can be decent too.

It's free and takes as long as you fancy - anywhere from ten minutes to an hour if the salmon are running. Kids seem to either find it fascinating or lose interest fast; there's no way to predict which way they'll go. Adults tend to linger longer, especially if you catch a run happening in real time. The spot lies bang in the middle of Pitlochry town itself, so it slots neatly into a wider Perthshire trip without any detour nonsense.

If you're staying at Milton of Fonab or Faskally Woods just down the road, this costs nothing and fills a gap when the weather turns shifty. Fair warning though - it's industrial looking, not romantic, and if there's no salmon activity on the day you visit, you're just staring at empty pools. Pair it with a walk along the Tummel or a proper day out at Blair Castle further afield to make a full afternoon.