Queen Victoria's Obelisk

There's a rather imposing granite obelisk standing on a hillside near Ballater that most visitors to the area completely miss. Queen Victoria's Obelisk was erected in 1862 to mark the queen's visit to the Highlands - a proper monument to the Victorian obsession with memorialising royal occasions. The thing is solid, about 50 feet tall, and frankly quite stark against the moorland backdrop.

You'll need a decent walk to reach it, nothing too strenuous but you're talking a good 45 minutes or so depending on which route you take from Ballater. The views across the Dee Valley are genuinely worth the leg work, though the obelisk itself won't occupy you for long once you're there - a few minutes of looking, maybe a photo, then back down again. History buffs will appreciate the connection to Victoria's love of Balmoral and the Highlands, which transformed this area into a royal playground. For families with younger kids, it's probably more of a diversion than a main event - older walkers who enjoy a moorland tramp with some historical context will get more satisfaction from it.

It's free to visit and accessible year-round, though winter conditions can make the approach tricky. If you're staying at somewhere like Howe of Torbeg, which sits about five miles away, this makes an easy half-day excursion. Don't expect facilities or crowds - that's rather the point. The Ballater area has plenty of other attractions if you want to make a fuller day of it, but this obelisk rewards anyone willing to do the legwork.