Elphinstone Tower

You'll spot this crumbling sandstone tower long before you reach it - a solitary sentinel rising from the scrubland just outside Musselburgh. Elphinstone Tower is what's left of a 15th-century fortified residence, and honestly, it's more atmospheric in its decay than most fully restored castles manage. The tower itself is rectangular, built from that lovely warm-coloured stone you see all over East Lothian, with enough surviving masonry to give you a proper sense of scale.

The walk in is straightforward enough, taking you through farmland with decent views across towards the Pentland Hills. Once there, you can walk around the base and peer through the openings - there's no admission charge and no visitor centre to fuss about, which is rather refreshing. The interior is inaccessible, sadly, but the exterior tells you enough about how these Border lairds lived. History enthusiasts will appreciate the date carved into the stonework and the sheer durability of 15th-century brickwork.

Allow 45 minutes to an hour if you're combining it with a walk. It's not a destination in itself, but rather a cracking spot to include on a longer ramble around the Musselburgh area. Families with walkers aged ten-plus will find it worthwhile; younger children might lose interest quickly. The nearby Drummohr Camping site is well-positioned if you're basing yourself here, and Haven Seton Sands offers more facilities if you prefer that setup. Best visited on a dry day - the approach can get muddy, and there's precious little shelter once you're there.