Duke of York's Battery

The Duke of York's Battery sits on the banks of the Leven, just outside Balloch, a stubby fortification that's easy to miss if you're rushing between Loch Lomond's bigger attractions. It's a proper Victorian-era gun emplacement - all grassy mounds and stone foundations - built to defend this stretch of water back when coastal defence actually mattered. The views across the water are decent enough, and there's something oddly appealing about pottering around old military remains without crowds. History buffs will want to spend twenty minutes poking about and imagining the strategic importance of this wee corner of the Lowlands. Kids might find it interesting for about ten minutes, depending on their tolerance for slightly murky heritage sites with no interpretive panels.

It won't cost you anything to visit, and you can combine it easily with time at nearby Lomond Woods Holiday Park or Loch Lomond Retreat if you're based in the area. The real draw here isn't the battery itself - it's the walk to reach it and the excuse to properly explore the Balloch waterfront. Come in drier months if you can, as the ground gets soft and the atmosphere slightly grimmer when wet. The site's informal, so there's no visitor centre or facilities, just you and the Loch breeze. Worth a half-hour detour on a park holiday if you're interested in this corner of Scottish military history, but don't rearrange your plans specially.