Stone Dragon

You'll find this curious carved stone creature standing in the Ayrshire landscape - a proper oddity that stops you dead when you round the corner. The Dragon itself is a hefty chunk of sculpted rock, weathered and dramatic, the kind of thing that makes you wonder who bothered hauling it out there and why. It's free to visit, unrestricted access, so you can swing by whenever suits you.

The actual experience is brief - ten minutes maximum if you're taking photos and having a good look around. This isn't a day-long attraction. What you're doing is stopping, staring a bit, taking a few shots, asking yourself what the artist was on about. The Dragon sits in its own space, commanding attention without any faffing about with visitor centres or gift shops.

It's the kind of stop that works brilliantly if you're already in the area - say, camped at Parkdean Resorts Sandylands Holiday Park a few miles away. It breaks up a walking route nicely or fills that awkward hour before tea time. Kids find it interesting enough for a distraction; adults appreciate the sheer eccentricity of it. On a grey Ayrshire day, when the light's doing something odd, it can actually look quite striking.

Don't go out of your way specifically for the Stone Dragon. Do absolutely stop if you're nearby. It's the kind of honest local landmark that reminds you why wandering about Scotland throws up these random, brilliant surprises.