Stenton War Memorial

The memorial sits in Stenton itself, a quiet village inland from Dunbar, and it's one of those stark reminders that war touched everywhere - not just the big cities. You're looking at a stone monument dedicated to the local fallen, the sort of place that barely makes it onto any guidebook but says something true about Scottish communities and what they lost.

It's a straightforward visit - you roll up, have a look, pay your respects if you're inclined, and move on. Twenty minutes maximum. The memorial isn't ornate or theatrical. It's the opposite, really. That's partly what makes it worth stopping for if you're interested in how ordinary places remember their dead.

Stenton works as a short diversion if you're based at Belhaven Bay Caravan Park down towards the coast. You're only 3.5 miles away, so it's a quick detour on a drive inland, or a decent walk if the weather's decent. The village itself is small - there's not masses to do here - but that quietness is rather the point. It's the sort of spot where you get a genuine feel for how life carried on in rural East Lothian, without the tourist polish of somewhere like Dunbar.

If you're the type who likes to explore parish-level history rather than big heritage attractions, you'll find something here. Families with young children might find it a bit underwhelming unless history genuinely interests them.