Propeller/Capstan/Anchor

Down by the waterfront in Helensburgh, a old ship's propeller sits propped against the quay like an oversized sculpture someone's forgotten to finish. It's one of those local landmarks that doesn't make it onto many tourist maps, but once you're there you understand why locals point it out. The propeller, along with various maritime bits and pieces scattered about, tells the story of the town's shipbuilding past - Helensburgh was proper busy on the Clyde, and this chunk of industrial heritage is what's left.

It's not going to eat up your afternoon. Twenty minutes max, unless you're the type who photographs every angle. Worth a stop if you're already poking around the seafront, maybe heading down from Rosneath Castle Caravan Park which sits just a few miles inland. Kids might find it interesting for five minutes, then want to head for the ice cream van.

The real appeal is the sense of place it gives you. Standing there looking out at the Firth of Clyde, you can picture the noise and activity that used to characterise this stretch of water. It anchors the town's identity, in a way. Free to look at, naturally - it's just sitting there on public ground. Best visited when the weather's halfway decent so you can actually enjoy the waterfront walk. Don't expect interpretive boards or visitor facilities. This is raw local history, untidy and real.