Colin Barron VC Memorial

A modest stone memorial marks the resting place of Colin Barron, a local man who earned the Victoria Cross - Britain's highest military decoration - for extraordinary bravery. It's the sort of thing you'd walk past without thinking twice if you didn't know the story, which is precisely why it matters.

Barron was from this corner of Aberdeenshire, and his memorial sits quietly near Banff, a coastal town that's seen better days but retains genuine character. The VC itself was awarded for actions during the Second World War, and paying respects at a place like this adds real weight to a holiday that might otherwise be all caravan parks and fish suppers.

This is absolutely for history types and anyone with a sense of what these medals actually represent - not a grand visitor experience, but something genuine. There's no visitor centre or café, just the memorial itself. You'll want to allow 20 minutes, maybe half an hour if you're inclined to sit and absorb the place. Free to visit, naturally.

If you're based at Whitehills or Banff Links caravan parks - both within walking distance - it's a proper little pilgrimage worth making. Pairs well with exploring Banff's fishing heritage or a longer walk along the coast. Not a destination in itself, but exactly the sort of unpolished local history that makes a Scottish holiday feel less like tourism and more like actual travel.