Queen Mary's Gate

Just outside Kinross, this modest stone gateway marks where Mary Queen of Scots crossed into Scotland after her escape from captivity in England. It's not grand - just a simple arch standing by the roadside - but there's something genuinely moving about standing where one of history's most turbulent figures actually stood.

The gate itself is unprepossessing, really. Two sturdy pillars, weathered by centuries, with an inscription that's seen better days. You won't spend hours here - fifteen minutes covers it properly. But if you're interested in Scottish history beyond the sanitised tourist version, it's worth the detour from Kinross.

The surrounding landscape is fairly flat and unremarkable, which somehow makes the spot feel even more isolated and poignant. There's space to pull over if you're driving, though facilities are non-existent. Come on a quiet morning and you might have the place entirely to yourself.

It works well as a quick stop on a wider Perthshire tour. If you're based at Gallowhill Caravan & Camping Park just down the road, you could easily pop over. The grander attractions - Lochleven Castle, Kinross House - lie nearby and make for a more substantial day out. But Queen Mary's Gate itself? It's the sort of place that lingers in your mind longer than its modest appearance suggests it should. History buffs and anyone with an interest in Mary's dramatic life will find genuine value here, even if the setting is deliberately understated.