David Wright Drinking Fountain

A Victorian water fountain standing in Musselburgh might not sound like a draw, but David Wright's contribution to the town reveals something about 19th-century philanthropy you don't often see marked. This is a working drinking fountain - one of those cast-iron structures that speak to a time when clean water mattered enough to commemorate publicly.

It's the sort of thing you notice while wandering Musselburgh's high street rather than plan a pilgrimage around, though walkers and history types will appreciate what it represents. The fountain itself is modest but well-maintained, tucked into the townscape rather than dominating it. You'll spend minutes here, not hours. It costs nothing and sits freely accessible.

What makes it worthwhile is the context. Musselburgh has proper character - old fishing port, decent chip shops, River Esk running through - and the fountain fits into a broader exploration of the town's past. If you're based at Drummohr Camping & Glamping Site just down the road or Haven Seton Sands further along the coast, an afternoon poke around Musselburgh works well before or after beach time. The town's close enough to Edinburgh for a day trip but feels distinctly separate, which is the appeal.

Don't expect grandeur. Do expect a genuine slice of local history that most visitors miss entirely. That's rather the point.