Bankton Doocot

The dovecot at Bankton is a proper oddity - a squat, cylindrical stone tower that looks like it's been there since someone invented pigeons. Dating from the 17th century, this little-known structure sits quietly near Musselburgh and tells you everything about how seriously Scottish landowners took their dinner plans. Inside, hundreds of nesting boxes line the walls, built in a honeycomb pattern to house birds that provided meat, eggs, and fertiliser before fridges made life easier.

It's not a day-long attraction - more a forty-minute detour if you're already in East Lothian. History buffs will find it genuinely interesting, and kids usually enjoy the slightly macabre logic of it (they ate the pigeons, yes). The confined interior space means it won't work for those with mobility issues or severe claustrophobia.

If you're based at Haven Seton Sands Holiday Village or Drummohr Camping & Glamping Site, both within easy reach, Bankton makes a solid wet-weather option or a quick cultural pause between walks. Musselburgh itself offers pubs and decent fish and chips if you need refueling. Don't expect visitor facilities here - it's atmospheric but basic. Worth the short drive if you're into vernacular architecture and Scottish rural life, less essential if you're after something showy.