Salerno Platoon National Servicemen Memorial

You'll find this memorial tucked away near Fortrose, a small town on the Black Isle that most visitors drive straight through without a second glance. It commemorates the National Servicemen who served during the Salerno landings in Italy during World War II - a piece of Scottish military history that deserves more footfall than it gets.

The site itself is modest but dignified. There's a stone memorial with plaques honouring those who fell, and the setting has that quiet, respectful feel you get at these sorts of places. It's the kind of spot where you genuinely feel the weight of what happened, rather than something that's been overly polished for tourists. The walk to reach it is straightforward enough, though check locally for exact access details as opening arrangements aren't always clearly published.

History buffs will appreciate the connection to the Italian campaign - it's not a headline-grabbing theatre of war like Normandy, but it mattered enormously to the men involved and their families. If you've got elderly relatives with military service background, this could be genuinely moving. For most holiday-makers though, it's a brief detour rather than a destination in itself - twenty minutes max.

Stay at Fortrose Bay Campsite just down the road and you've got a proper base for exploring the Black Isle. The memorial works well as part of a morning's local history ramble before heading elsewhere. Not essential, but worth knowing about if you're in the area.