Tain Airfield Memorial

Out on the flat lands near Dornoch, there's a memorial that stops you dead. It marks where RAF Tain once stood during the Second World War - a fighter station that saw real action. Walking around the site now, you're on open moorland, just the wind and the history pressing down on you.

The memorial itself is modest but affecting. It commemorates the aircrew who died here, and there's enough information on site to understand what happened during those years. It's not a museum or a visitor centre - there's no café, no gift shop. You come here to remember, to walk, to think about what ordinary people did in extraordinary times. History buffs will find it genuinely moving; for families with older children, it's an accessible way to talk about the war without needing hours of explanation.

Allow an hour to get there from Dornoch, walk around properly, and take it in. There's no charge that I'm aware of - you just show up. The moorland around it is vast and rather bleak, which somehow makes the memorial more powerful, not less.

If you're staying at Dornoch Caravan & Camping Park or Dornoch Firth Caravan Park, both within easy reach, this is a worthwhile detour. It pairs well with a day exploring the east coast around Dornoch itself. Go on a clear day if you can; the bleakness gets a bit much in the rain.