John Forbes, younger of Newe Coming of Age Cairn

A modest stone cairn marks the spot where John Forbes, the younger of Newe, came of age in the Scottish Highlands - a moment that would have mattered deeply to his family and the local community. You'll find it sitting quietly in the Aberdeenshire landscape near Strathdon, a pile of stones that represents a very particular Highland tradition and a slice of how people marked important life transitions centuries ago.

What strikes you first is how understated it all is. There's no grand monument here, no museum nearby - just the cairn itself and the rolling moorland around it. That's rather the point. This is the sort of thing you stumble upon while walking the hills, or deliberately seek out if you're interested in Scottish social history and the customs of the Northeast.

Walkers and local history enthusiasts will get the most from this one. It's not a destination that demands hours of your time - more something to incorporate into a longer ramble through the glens. The nearest accommodation option, Cairngorms Glamping & Campsite just under two miles away, makes it feasible to base yourself here and explore the wider area.

The cairn works best as part of a broader Highland tour rather than a standalone visit. Strathdon itself is close enough for supplies, and if you're staying at the glamping site, it's well placed for exploring Aberdeenshire's more remote corners. Bring good boots and waterproof - the weather up here doesn't wait around.