Waterloo Cairn

A modest stone pile on the Cairngorms plateau marks the spot where, in 1815, locals gathered to celebrate news of Wellington's victory at Waterloo. It's not much to look at - just stacked rocks really - but standing there you get why folk would trek up here to mark the moment. The cairn sits at around 600 metres elevation on open moorland between Aviemore and the ski centre, so the views across the Highland valleys are substantial on a clear day.

Walkers will appreciate this one. It's a straightforward objective if you're rambling the area anyway, though it's not the kind of spot you'd plan a special trip for unless you're genuinely into Napoleonic history or local heritage. The walk from Aviemore takes a couple of hours at a reasonable pace, nothing technical. Families with younger legs might find it a bit of a slog for what amounts to a pile of stones at the top, but teenagers who enjoy hillwalking will get something from it.

Dalraddy Holiday Park sits less than a mile away, making it convenient if you're basing yourself there during a Highland park holiday. The cairn works best as part of a longer moorland walk rather than a destination in itself. Go when the weather's cooperating - the exposed location means fog can roll in quickly and ruin the views entirely. Free to visit, obviously, and open year-round, though winter snow and ice complicate access.