Clatt Kirk

The kirk sits modest and grey on the edge of Clatt, a proper working church that's been quietly going about its business since the 1600s. It's not the sort of place you'd stumble across by accident - you have to mean it - but that's rather the point. Inside, the whitewashed walls and simple wooden pews tell you everything about the no-nonsense faith of Aberdeenshire folk. The churchyard's worth a wander too, with headstones dating back generations, telling stories in slate and sandstone.

This appeals most to those with actual roots in the area or a genuine interest in Scottish ecclesiastical architecture - it's not a blockbuster attraction. An hour's max, and that includes lingering over the graveyard. The building's usually accessible during daylight, though it's worth calling ahead if you've come a distance.

If you're based at Haughton Holiday Park, a short drive away, Clatt Kirk makes a sensible stop on a morning's outing into rural Aberdeenshire. Pair it with a ramble through the surrounding farmland or a visit to nearby Torphins - you won't find it crammed with tourists, but you will find genuine quietness. The church tells you more about how ordinary Scots actually lived than any polished visitor centre ever could. Worth it if you're genuinely interested; skip it if you're rushing.