Sergeant J McAulay VC Memorial

The memorial to Sergeant James McAulay sits quietly in Kinghorn, a small Fife coastal town that most people drive straight through without a second glance. McAulay earned the Victoria Cross during the Second World War - one of Scotland's most decorated soldiers - and this modest marker honours his extraordinary bravery. It's the kind of place that stops you dead when you realise what you're looking at: a man who lived here, walked these streets, and performed acts of courage that still echo nearly eighty years on.

You won't spend hours here - this isn't a visitor centre or a sprawling battlefield tour. It's a brief, reflective stop that works best as part of a larger wander through Kinghorn itself. The town has a working harbour and a decent waterfront, so you can combine a look at the memorial with a proper walk along the coast. It's genuinely moving if military history matters to you, or if you're one of those people who likes to understand the human stories behind the medals and the dates.

If you're staying at Kinghorn Harbour Holiday Park - which sits practically on your doorstep - this takes five minutes out of your morning and costs nothing. Go early, when the light's decent and the seafront is quieter. Families won't find much to hold their attention here, but anyone with an interest in Scottish wartime history or local heritage will find it well worth the detour from the main East Neuk trail.