52 ABD

The Roman marching camp at 52 ABD sits just outside Woodside, a proper slice of ancient military engineering that most visitors to Aberdeen completely miss. What you're actually looking at is the flattened remains of a temporary Roman encampment - ditches, ramparts, the lot - from around the 80s AD when the legions were pushing through Scotland. It's not dramatic ruins or standing stones; it's more about reading the landscape, spotting the defensive earthworks that still mark out where thousands of soldiers bedded down nearly two thousand years ago.

History enthusiasts will get proper value here, especially anyone interested in Roman Britain's northern frontier. The site demands a bit of walking and the ability to imagine rather than gawp at obvious monuments, so it's less suited to young children after five minutes of "Is that it?" and more for teenagers or adults with a genuine interest in archaeology. You'll need to allow a good hour if you're going to walk the perimeter and take in the whole picture.

It's free to access - park up near Woodside and head out on foot. The best time to visit is late spring or early autumn when the ground isn't waterlogged and you can actually see the earthworks clearly. If you're staying at Seaview Caravan Park, it's only 3.5 miles away, making this a decent half-day outing between seaside time and exploring Aberdeen itself. Worth the detour if Roman camps interest you; skip it if you need something more visually obvious.