Temple of Pomona

The Temple of Pomona sits quietly near Banff, a proper oddity that catches most visitors off guard. It's a small folly - a stone structure built in the 18th century by someone with money and decidedly romantic tastes. You won't find crowds here, which is rather the point.

What you're actually looking at is a deliberately ruined temple dedicated to the Roman goddess of fruit and gardens. The locals had a good laugh about it at the time, no doubt. It's the sort of thing a wealthy landowner built because he could, because the Highlands needed more follies apparently, and because it looked tremendous from his house. The stonework's held up reasonably well considering its age, though weather and time have done their work.

History buffs will find it mildly interesting - a snapshot of 18th-century taste and the fashion for classical references that gripped British estates. Walkers might appreciate it as a modest objective while exploring the Aberdeenshire coast path; it's not going to demand hours of your day. Kids under eight will lose interest quickly unless you're good at spinning stories about ancient Romans.

There's no admission charge as far as anyone can tell, and you can visit any time you fancy. If you're staying at Sandend Holidays - just a few miles away and open April through October - this makes a decent half-hour diversion on a coastal walk. Don't expect grand facilities or interpretation boards. That's rather the charm of it. It's a quiet, slightly eccentric monument that asks very little of you but rewards attention if you're the type who enjoys forgotten folly tourism.