Highland Fieldcraft Training Centre W∑∑ar Memorial

Just outside Aviemore, there's a war memorial that tells a quieter story than most - it marks the site where Highland soldiers trained for combat during the World Wars. The Highland Fieldcraft Training Centre memorial sits in landscape that hasn't changed much since those men drilled here, which gives the whole thing an eerie authenticity.

It's not flashy. There's no visitor centre, no gift shop, no queues. You arrive, you read the inscriptions, you think about what happened here. The setting itself - moorland and forest with Aviemore's ski runs visible in the distance - somehow makes it more poignant than a marble monument in a town square would be.

Walkers will find this worth a detour if you're exploring the area around Aviemore anyway. It's accessible but requires a bit of effort to locate, which means you won't find crowds. Families with older children who understand the significance of these sites will get something meaningful from it. Don't expect to spend hours here - twenty minutes is realistic - but it's the kind of place that sticks with you.

If you're staying at Dalraddy Holiday Park, it's within easy driving distance and makes sense as part of a broader Highland exploration. Pair it with walks in the Cairngorms or a visit to Aviemore itself. There's no charge as far as we can tell, and there are no set opening hours - it's a memorial in an open space. Go when the light's good; the moorland photographs beautifully in late afternoon.