Canal Park

The Canal Park in Macduff is where you'll find the local football club doing their thing - it's the home of Macduff FC, a no-nonsense wee ground that punches above its weight in the Scottish football hierarchy. If you're after matchday atmosphere in a proper community setting, this is it. The ground itself is modest but functional, the sort of place where you can actually hear the managers shouting at their players and spot familiar faces in the crowd.

It's worth timing a visit around a home fixture if you're staying in the area, especially if you've got kids who fancy their football. Even on a non-match day, it's a pleasant enough spot to understand what local sport means to a town like Macduff. Don't expect corporate lounges or fancy facilities - this is grassroots football, which is precisely why some people prefer it.

Staying at Banff Links or Whitehills Caravan Park puts you within easy reach. Both are cracking bases for the north-east coast, and Macduff itself is worth a wander anyway - the harbour's lovely, and there's decent fish and chips if you need feeding after the match. Allow an afternoon for match day itself, maybe three hours if you want to explore Macduff's seafront beforehand. Check ahead for fixture dates and admission costs, as these vary season to season.