Lord & Lady McElroy

The Lord and Lady McElroy statues stand as an odd but oddly compelling roadside fixture near Cairndow, in Argyll. These two bronze figures - stern-faced and dressed in period costume - were erected to commemorate local landowners, and they've developed a devoted following among folk who appreciate quirky Scottish monuments that don't take themselves too seriously.

What strikes you first is how utterly earnest they are. There's no irony here, no winking at the viewer - just two people cast in bronze, gazing out over the landscape with the kind of permanent solemnity you'd expect from statues commissioned decades ago. The setting matters too. They're positioned alongside the road with views toward Loch Fyne, so you're not just looking at carved stone figures - you're looking at them framed by proper Argyll scenery.

Worth stopping for? Yes, but set expectations right. This isn't a hour-long attraction. You'll spend five minutes photographing them, reading the plaque, maybe wondering about the story behind why they warranted statues in the first place. That's perfectly fine. It's a proper little detour if you're staying at Strathlachlan Caravan Park or Glendaruel Caravan Park nearby, both within three miles.

The real appeal is how they anchor you to a place. You're not just passing through Argyll - you're stopping to pay respects to its oddball local history. Kids find them funny. Walkers heading toward Loch Fyne appreciate the pause point. And for history types, they're a reminder that not every memorial needs to be grand to be worth visiting.