Forfar Witches Memorial

The stone memorial in Forfar town centre marks one of Scotland's darkest chapters - between 1649 and 1661, over thirty people were executed here on witchcraft charges. Standing in front of it now, you're looking at a relatively modest monument, but the weight of what it represents hits you hard.

This isn't a visitor attraction in the traditional sense. There's no entrance fee, no opening hours to worry about, and you can spend as long as you like just reading the inscriptions and taking it in. Most people manage it in ten to fifteen minutes, though locals often pause here longer. It's the kind of place that sticks with you - not for spectacle, but for what it says about mass hysteria and judicial failure.

Historians and anyone interested in Scottish social history will find it genuinely moving. Families with teenagers might get something from it too, though younger kids could find it a bit abstract. The memorial does a decent job of presenting the facts without sensationalising things, which is the right tone for the subject.

Forfar itself is a working market town in Angus, about halfway between Dundee and Aberdeen. If you're staying at Greenhillock Glamping five miles south of town, popping into Forfar for an hour takes no time at all. It's worth combining with a walk round the town's other historical sites - the castle ruins and the museum add proper context. Don't expect a tourist attraction circus here. Do expect to feel something genuine.