Queen Mary's Mount

A modest grass mound rising from flat East Lothian farmland, Queen Mary's Mount sits just outside Musselburgh with a view that sweeps across the Firth of Forth. The site marks where Mary, Queen of Scots reportedly watched the Battle of Pinkie in 1547 - a proper turning point in Scottish history, though honestly the mound itself doesn't scream drama. It's more contemplative than thrilling. You get there, climb up (takes about five minutes), and you're struck by how exposed and windswept the spot is. The surrounding countryside opens out completely. Walking it feels less like visiting a major tourist attraction and more like stumbling onto a bit of local knowledge.

History buffs will find it worthwhile as a pilgrimage point, though there's no interpretation on site - you'll want to read up beforehand. Families with young kids might find the mound itself entertaining for twenty minutes of running around and looking out, but little ones won't grasp the significance. It's best paired with a broader East Lothian circuit that includes nearby Dunbar Castle or the coast proper. Free to visit and no formal opening hours means you can roll up whenever.

If you're camping at Drummohr Camping & Glamping Site, it's barely a twenty-minute drive. Haven Seton Sands Holiday Village is also close by. The mound works best on a clear day when that Forth view justifies the trip - come on a grey afternoon and you might wonder why you bothered.