National Memorial

The National Memorial sits on high ground near Dingwall, commanding views across the Highland landscape that stretch for miles on a clear day. It's a substantial stone structure - the sort of thing you can spot from the road - dedicated to those who died in the Great War. The walk up to it takes the better part of twenty minutes from the car park, and it's worth doing slowly to take in the moorland around you.

This isn't a place where you'll spend hours. Most visitors come for the views, pay their respects at the monument, take a photograph, and head back down. That said, the walk itself is pleasant enough, and the whole trip works well if you're camping nearby at Dingwall Camping and Caravanning Club Site - literally ten minutes away - or staying at Highland Heights Luxury Glamping further out. Kids aged eight and up will manage the walk without complaint, though younger ones might grumble about the leg-work.

It's free to visit, which is the right price for what amounts to a monument and a hillside. Go on a day when the weather's settled; rain makes the path muddy and ruins the views entirely. The memorial itself is properly maintained, and there's a quiet, reflective quality to the place that feels appropriate. If you're working your way around the local parks and reserves in the area, this fits in as a half-hour detour rather than a day trip, but that doesn't make it unworthy of a visit.