Bervie Parish Church

The kirkyard at Bervie sits quietly on a rise above Stonehaven, and if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Cloak or Upper Crawton are both close by - it's worth a short detour on foot. The church itself is modest, typical of Aberdeenshire's rural parishes, but the real draw is the walk there and the view across rolling farmland towards the coast.

This isn't a major attraction. You won't spend hours here. But on a clear morning the place has proper character - weathered gravestones dating back centuries, some legible if you know how to read old stones, others worn smooth by Scottish rain and time. The church building is straightforward parish work, nothing fancy, which somehow suits the landscape.

Bring the dog if you're walking from one of the holiday parks. The approach is via country lanes and paths that are pleasant enough without being dramatic. Families with young children might find the kirk itself underwhelming - there's not much to do inside - but the surrounding countryside makes for a decent ramble, particularly if you combine it with exploring the broader Stonehaven area.

Best visited in late spring or early autumn when the weather's cooperating and you can actually linger without getting soaked. St Cyrus Holiday Park, the largest of the three nearby, would make a sensible base if you're serious about exploring this corner of Aberdeenshire rather than just passing through.