Little Ross island

You'll spot Little Ross Island from the water near Kirkcudbright - a small, rocky outcrop in the Solway Firth with a lighthouse that's been guiding boats since 1843. The island itself isn't open to the public, which is probably just as well given the tidal conditions around it, but the real appeal is viewing it from the shore or by boat. A proper piece of Scottish maritime history, this one.

The lighthouse is what draws people here. It's a working beacon still, unmanned these days, and from a distance it's got that romantic lighthouse-on-a-rock appeal that makes for decent photographs. If you're staying at one of the holiday parks nearby - Solway View Holidays, Domes By The Sea, or Brighouse Bay are all within spitting distance - you can walk down to the foreshore at different times of day and catch it in different light. The Solway's tidal range is dramatic, so low tide reveals mudflats and shingle you won't see otherwise.

Walkers and maritime enthusiasts will get the most from this. If you're after a destination experience with activities and facilities, you'll be disappointed - it's a viewpoint, not a day out. But if you're in the Kirkcudbright area anyway, which is worth visiting for its art galleries and restaurants, adding a walk down to see the island costs nothing and takes thirty minutes or so. Go with the tides in mind rather than on impulse. It's the sort of thing that sticks with you more for the atmosphere than anything else - that quiet, windswept Solway feeling.