Boddin Point Lime Kilns

The lime kilns at Boddin Point aren't much to look at from the car park, but walk down to the shore and you'll understand why folk bothered preserving them. These weathered stone structures date back to the 19th century, when limestone was shipped in from Fife and burned here to produce quicklime for agriculture and building. The kilns themselves are substantial - proper industrial archaeology you can actually touch and explore, rather than just read about behind glass.

The site sits right on the Aberdeenshire coast, so you get the added bonus of dramatic seascapes and a bracing walk. On a clear day the views along the cliffs are genuinely excellent. It's the sort of place where history types and coastal walkers overlap perfectly. You could spend twenty minutes photographing the kilns, or an hour if you're the kind who gets absorbed in how things actually worked. There's no visitor centre or café - this is raw, uninterpreted heritage - which means it's free and refreshingly quiet.

Arbroath is only a few miles down the road if you want lunch afterwards. The nearest proper base would be The Grange Glamping & Animal Experience, about four miles away, which offers a more interesting alternative to standard caravan parks if you're staying longer in the area. The walk down to Boddin Point itself is straightforward and takes perhaps fifteen minutes from the top. Go when the weather's decent - there's little shelter once you're down there, and a gale can make it feel properly exposed.