Nick Drainey's Extra Mile

A memorial to a musical icon in one of the most remote corners of Scotland.

John Lennon Memorial Garden, Durness

Fans of the Beatles are in every country of the world, covering all ages and walks of life. Many stump up small fortunes to own memorabilia but few venture as far as the top of Sutherland to honour one of their musical heroes.

Mountains, golden beaches and vast tracts of wonderful, empty countryside are the big attraction in this part of the country. But the tiny village of Durness, next to Cape Wrath is also the unlikely home of the John Lennon Memorial Garden. It was here that the Beatle-to-be spent many childhood summers.

The centrepiece to the garden is three standing stones inscribed with the lyrics to In My Life - "there are places I remember" - carved in them. The Beechgrove Garden team helped to design the garden with plants capable of weathering the storms which batter the Far North coast.

It opened in August 2002 and is still there, perched next to the village hall where there is a display on Lennon's place in the remote Sutherland countryside. So, after you have scaled the mountains enjoyed the nearby beaches of Sango or Balnakeil head to the memorial for a different perspective of the area.