Clackmannan Tolbooth

The Tolbooth sits right in the middle of Clackmannan village like a small stone sentinel, watching over the market square. It's a sturdy 17th-century building with a clock tower on top - the sort of thing you'd walk past a hundred times and then suddenly think, 'Actually, what is that?' Built in 1592, it's one of Scotland's oldest purpose-built municipal buildings, which is rather impressive when you consider how many newer towns have nothing half as dignified.

You can't go inside - it's basically a look-at landmark rather than a climb-about experience - but the exterior is genuinely striking, particularly if you catch it in afternoon light when the stonework turns a lovely warm grey. The clock tower gives it real presence on the main street. History buffs will appreciate it as a working example of 16th-century civic authority. Kids might find it a bit underwhelming on its own, but it's the sort of thing that makes sense when you're already wandering the village.

Clackmannan itself is a proper backwater - barely a ripple compared to the busier towns around it - which is actually rather nice. It sits about four miles south of Alloa and makes an easy detour if you're exploring the Fife & Tayside region. If you're staying at nearby West Fife Pods, this costs you nothing and takes ten minutes. Worth the stroll, but don't expect to spend long. The surrounding village has a quiet charm, though don't expect much by way of amenities.