Kirkcudbright Tolbooth

The old courthouse in the middle of Kirkcudbright's high street is impossible to miss - a sturdy stone building that's been watching over this artist's town since 1629. Now it functions as a museum telling the story of the burgh and its colourful past, with exhibits that shift between local history, crime and punishment, and the town's relationship with the sea. You'll spend perhaps 45 minutes inside, wandering through small rooms that feel authentically cramped rather than slickly curated. It's the sort of place where you learn something unexpected - like the real reasons Kirkcudbright attracted painters in the 19th century, or what passing through tolbooth doors actually meant for ordinary people.

The Tolbooth suits history buffs and anyone interested in how Scottish towns actually functioned rather than romanticised versions of them. Families with young children might find it a touch slow unless they're keen on stories about old jails. The town itself is the real draw - Kirkcudbright's got a proper creative community, excellent chip shops, and a working harbour that looks like it's stepped out of a painting. If you're camping at Silver Craigs just down the road, or staying at one of the larger parks like Brighouse Bay, this is an easy afternoon stop before heading to the shops or the riverside.

Check locally for opening hours and admission fees before you visit - details are thin on the ground online, but it's worth ringing ahead rather than making the trip and finding it shut.