Memorial Pillar

The Memorial Pillar stands on a gentle rise outside Hawick, a grey stone finger pointing skyward that stops you mid-walk and makes you pause. It commemorates local events and figures important to the town's past - the sort of monument that rewards actually reading the plaques rather than just snapping it for the 'gram.

It's a straightforward stop, best suited to anyone interested in Scottish Borders history or walkers using it as a landmark on a longer route through the countryside. You won't need more than ten or fifteen minutes here unless you're genuinely keen on the inscription and its backstory. The views across the hills are decent if unremarkable on a clear day.

What makes it worthwhile is context. Combine it with a proper walk through Hawick itself - the High Street has genuine character - or slot it into a wider exploration of the Borders landscape. If you're staying at Stouslie Snugs, the luxury farm glamping just three miles away, this becomes an easy afternoon stroll rather than a dedicated trip. The pillar works as a focal point for a ramble, not a destination in itself.

Free to visit, naturally. Go when the weather's decent because there's no shelter, and bring a decent pair of boots - the ground around it gets muddy after rain. Late spring or early autumn offers the best walking conditions without the midges that plague summer.