Thistle??

No, it's not a thistle but something similar called Common Knapweed. It's smaller and has no prickly bits.

While on holiday last week we visited the Tourist Information office in Castle Douglas and the lady there gave GG, Cameron, Scott and I each a copy of an I Spy book called Scottish Nature. Cameron is quite obsessed with these little books, in which you have to tick off items as you see them, along with the date when it was. They are really educational too. We also had the Car Badges one with us as well as On a Car Journey and Trees.

Managed to tick off a variety of different things in the nature book. This knapweed being one of them - only 10 points for this, but after all it is Common!!