Jane Haining Memorial Cairn

You'll find this modest cairn on a quiet stretch of moorland just outside Dumfries, a simple stone monument that marks something far larger than its understated presence suggests. Jane Haining was a Dumfries-born missionary who was imprisoned in Budapest during the Second World War for sheltering Jewish children. She died in Auschwitz in 1944, one of the few Scottish victims of the Holocaust.

The cairn itself is straightforward - no visitor centre, no crowds, just a quiet place to stand and remember. That's rather the point. It's the kind of memorial that demands you actually think about who she was and what she sacrificed, rather than having the story handed to you on an interpretive board.

Historians and anyone interested in Second World War history will get the most from a visit, though it works equally well as a contemplative stop if you're walking the moors nearby. Allow fifteen minutes or so - it's not lengthy, but the location itself is peaceful enough to linger.

If you're based at Red Squirrel Campsite or The Outdoor Hotel, both less than five miles away, this pairs well with exploring Dumfries itself and the surrounding Lowland walks. Winter's actually a fine time to visit; the moorland feels appropriately solemn, and you won't be fighting crowds. The memorial is free to access and available year-round.