Church of St Mary the Virgin

The Church of St Mary the Virgin sits quietly on the outskirts of Arbroath, a proper slice of Scottish ecclesiastical history that most tourists heading to the coast simply miss. Inside, the stone walls speak volumes - medieval architecture mixed with later additions, the kind of building that's been patched and loved by generations rather than frozen in time.

It's worth stopping for if you're into old churches and don't mind a bit of gravestone wandering. The churchyard itself is atmospheric, with headstones dating back centuries, and the views across the surrounding landscape aren't bad either. You're looking at twenty minutes to half an hour here, maybe longer if you're the type who reads every inscription.

This works well as a detour during a broader Arbroath visit - the town's known for its smokie fish and the ruins of Arbroath Abbey, so you could easily combine them. If you're based at The Grange Glamping nearby, it's close enough for an evening walk. The admission is typically free, as is the case with most parish churches in Scotland, though do check ahead before making the journey.

Honestly, it's not a destination in itself. But if you're already in the area and the weather's decent, the peaceful churchyard beats sitting in another cafe. The real pull is the sense of continuity - standing where people have stood for eight hundred years has a quiet power to it.