Henry Bell Obelisk

You'll find this modest obelisk standing on the waterfront at Helensburgh, a straight shot up the coast from Glasgow. It commemorates Henry Bell, the Scottish engineer who built the Comet in 1812 - the world's first commercially operated steamship. The monument itself is fairly small, all things told, but it marks something genuinely important in maritime history.

The real appeal here is the setting rather than the stone itself. It sits right by the water with views across the Firth of Clyde, and it's the sort of thing that takes ten minutes to see properly but works brilliantly as a stop-off if you're exploring Helensburgh town anyway. History enthusiasts will appreciate the significance, though casual visitors might find it a bit underwhelming on its own.

Rather than a destination in itself, think of it as a walking-route marker. The waterfront's pleasant enough for a stroll, and it connects naturally with exploring the town's Victorian architecture. If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Loch Lomond Retreat gets solid reviews and sits just five miles away - it's worth a quick visit while you're in the area. Helensburgh has decent facilities for lunch or a coffee, so you can make a proper morning of it without overcommitting time. Free to view, obviously, and accessible year-round.