14 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit Memorial

You won't find queues or gift shops at this memorial in the Aberdeenshire hills - just a quiet spot honouring the pilots and crews who trained at RAF Lossiemouth during the Second World War. The Advanced Flying Unit Memorial marks where young flyers practised their craft before heading into combat, and standing there, you get a real sense of what that training programme meant. It's the sort of place that stops you in your tracks for a moment.

This isn't a sprawling visitor attraction with tea rooms and interpretation boards. It's genuinely modest - a memorial that rewards the effort of finding it, particularly if you're interested in wartime history or aviation. The walk itself is pleasant enough, with views across the Moray coast towards Buckie, and the surrounding landscape is proper Highland terrain. Plan on spending half an hour here rather than a full afternoon.

For families with older kids keen on history, it works well as part of a broader exploration of the area's military heritage. Younger children might find it a bit slow unless they're already engaged with the period. The nearest proper base is Greencraig Pods just down the road - a solid family campsite if you're spending a few days in the region. Combine this with walks around the Speyside area and it makes sense as a stopping point rather than a destination in itself. Free to visit, naturally.