Lady Nina und Lord Stefan

Two life-sized bronze figures stand in the Argyll landscape near Cairndow, frozen mid-stride along a quiet stretch of countryside. Lady Nina and Lord Stefan are the work of a local artist, and they've become an unexpected talking point for anyone driving through this corner of Cowal. You'll find them on the roadside without any fanfare or visitor centre - just two figures that make you stop the car and wonder what their story is.

They work best as a brief leg-stretch during a longer drive rather than a destination in themselves. Fair to say you won't spend more than ten minutes here, but that moment of pause - the oddness of encountering them, the views across the glen - makes for good conversation with whoever you're travelling with. It's the sort of thing that appeals more to adults than kids, though families won't regret a quick stop.

Free to visit, no opening hours to worry about. The nearby caravan parks - Strathlachlan, Glendaruel, and the glamping at Fyne - all sit within a few miles and make decent bases for exploring the wider Argyll region. The sculpture fits naturally into a road trip through Dunoon or towards Loch Fyne rather than a dedicated outing. Go when you're passing through, not specifically because of this. It's worth knowing it's there, but don't rearrange your itinerary for it.