Battle of Prestonpans Memorial (Government Soldiers)

The field near Prestonpans where government forces were routed in 1745 is less about a grand monument and more about standing on ground where history turned on its head. This was the Jacobite victory that shocked London - the Young Pretender's army defeated the redcoats in under fifteen minutes. Today it's a quiet spot outside the town, marked with a memorial to those who fell fighting for the Crown.

You won't find crowds here or tourist facilities. What you get instead is the landscape itself - rolling terrain that explains why the Hanoverian commander positioned his men where he did, and why they were comprehensively outmanoeuvred. History enthusiasts and walkers with an interest in 18th-century Scotland will find it worthwhile; families expecting interactive displays or facilities will be disappointed.

Allow twenty to thirty minutes if you're stopping by, longer if you're genuinely exploring the battlefield layout. The nearest substantial amenities are in Prestonpans itself, a working town without much fanfare. It pairs well with the area's holiday parks - Haven Seton Sands is barely a mile away, making this an easy morning walk before heading to the beach. Drummohr Camping offers a more low-key base if you're serious about exploring East Lothian's quieter historical corners.

Go for the authenticity of standing where something genuinely significant happened, not for spectacle. The relative emptiness is actually the point.