Signal Tower Museum

The Signal Tower sits right on Arbroath's seafront, a sturdy sandstone building that once guided ships into the harbour. It's a proper working lighthouse that's been converted into a small museum - you climb the spiral staircase to the top for views across the North Sea that stretch for miles on a clear day. Worth doing just for that alone.

Inside, the exhibits focus on the lighthouse's role in maritime safety and the town's fishing heritage. It's low-key stuff - model ships, old equipment, historical photographs - but it tells the story of how crucial this tower was to generations of fishermen. The climb itself is tight and steep, so it's not brilliant for very young children or anyone with mobility issues, but older kids who like climbing will get a kick out of it.

Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you want to read everything properly. Admission is usually a few quid, though it's worth checking locally as opening hours can be seasonal. The real draw is combining it with a walk around Arbroath's harbour - it's genuinely atmospheric, especially early morning when the fishing boats are unloading their catch.

If you're staying at The Grange Glamping just outside town, this makes a decent rainy-day outing or a quick morning visit before heading elsewhere. It won't keep you occupied all day, but it's a solid addition to a coastal holiday rather than a destination in itself.