Dingwall Fordyce Monument

The Fordyce Monument sits on a windswept hill just outside Turriff, a modest granite pillar that's easy to miss if you're not looking for it. Built in 1821 to honour Alexander Fordyce, a local landowner, it's the sort of place that rewards curiosity more than it grabs you by the throat.

What you're actually getting is a brisk walk uphill to a vantage point with decent views across Aberdeenshire's rolling farmland. The monument itself is plain - no fancy inscriptions, no crowds. You'll spend ten minutes here maximum, which is fine. History buffs will appreciate the connection to 19th-century rural life in the Northeast, but anyone expecting theatrical drama should look elsewhere.

It works best as part of a wider ramble around Turriff rather than a destination in its own right. The town itself has a few decent pubs and cafes, and if you're based at East Balthangie Caravan & Camping Park just 3 miles away, it's a decent leg-stretch between the van and a proper dinner. The walk takes about twenty minutes from the town centre, and the path is straightforward though can get muddy.

Go if you're local and fancy a hillside breeze. Skip it if you're only passing through Aberdeenshire for a long weekend. It's genuine and unpretentious - just don't expect Instagram moments.