The Cone (A.Goldsworthy)

You'll spot it long before you reach it - a massive slate cone rising unexpectedly from the Dumfries and Galloway landscape near Thornhill, impossible to miss and rather brilliant in its simplicity. This is Andy Goldsworthy's work, the kind of land art that makes you stop the car and actually get out, rather than just scrolling past on Instagram. The cone itself is a substantial piece - built from local slate in that distinctive stacked style Goldsworthy's known for - and it's genuinely striking against the Scottish lowland scenery.

What you do here is straightforward: you walk up to it, you look at it, you take photos if you're that way inclined, and you think about how someone convinced the council this was a good idea. It works, though. There's something properly satisfying about seeing art in a landscape rather than locked behind gallery walls. The whole thing takes twenty minutes maximum, which makes it ideal as a quick stop if you're based at Penpont Holiday Park just down the road - barely a mile away - or combining it with a longer walk in the area.

Historically minded visitors and art types will get the most from this. Kids under ten might find it a bit abstract and lose interest quickly. Go on a clear day when the light catches the slate properly - wet weather dulls the effect somewhat. Free to visit, no facilities on site, and it's accessible year-round. If you're staying at Red Squirrel Campsite further out, it's worth the short drive as part of a broader Dumfries and Galloway art and landscape loop rather than a dedicated destination.