Patrick Manson

The Patrick Manson statue stands in Old Aberdeen, a bronze figure honouring the Scottish parasitologist who revolutionised tropical medicine in the late 1800s. Manson discovered how mosquitoes transmitted filariasis - proper groundbreaking work that laid the foundation for understanding malaria transmission. The statue itself is modest but dignified, tucked into the historic fabric of this university quarter rather than dominating any grand plaza.

You won't spend hours here, mind you. It's more a pause point on a walk through Old Aberdeen's medieval streets than a destination in itself. History buffs and medical types will appreciate the significance - this man essentially invented tropical medicine - but casual visitors might walk past without realising who he was. The real appeal is that it sits within one of Britain's most intact university areas, so you can combine it with wandering the ancient college buildings and cobbled lanes.

Old Aberdeen itself is worth an afternoon. The King's College Chapel with its distinctive crown steeple dominates the skyline, and the streets radiate outward with proper character. If you're based at Seaview Caravan Park just down the coast, this makes an easy drive inland - only three miles or so. Free to view, naturally. Autumn's the sweet spot weather-wise, when the sandstone glows and the place feels less swamped with students. Go midweek if you can.