Aberlour Library

The library sits on the High Street in Aberlour, a small whisky-soaked village between Keith and Ballindalloch in Speyside. It's a proper working library - not a tourist attraction in the traditional sense, but genuinely worth knowing about if you're staying nearby.

Inside you'll find the usual mix: shelves of fiction and non-fiction, a decent local history section that actually tells you something about the distilleries and the Spey Valley, computers for browsing, and staff who know the area well. The building itself has character without being showy about it. On a rainy afternoon - and there will be rainy afternoons - it's warmer and quieter than most of the village's tourist stops.

This works best for families with older children or readers looking for peace. Toddlers will find it a bit restrictive, to be honest. Opening hours and exact facilities vary, so ring ahead or check the local board in the foyer when you arrive.

If you're based at Hillside Havens just down the road, the library makes a sensible half-hour diversion during a park holiday. Grab a local guidebook, cool off when the sun's too hot, let the kids pick a book to read back at the caravan. It's not a reason to visit Aberlour on its own, but it's the kind of small practical thing that makes a week away feel less like constant sightseeing and more like actually living somewhere for a bit.