Colliston Parish Church

A small stone kirk sitting quietly in rural Aberdeenshire, Colliston Parish Church is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than deliberately seek out. Built in the 1800s, it's a straightforward, unpretentious structure - no grand architecture or bells ringing out across the glens, just solid Scottish stonework doing what it's meant to do.

The interior is modest. Plain pews, simple fixtures, light filtering through basic windows. What appeals here is the sense of continuity - centuries of local life passing through these doors, christenings and funerals and Sunday services in a place where not much has changed. If you're after architectural drama, go elsewhere. If you want to see how rural churches actually operate in these parts, this delivers the real thing.

It works best for walkers or anyone already exploring the Aberdeenshire countryside between Arbroath and the wider Highlands. You're not looking at spending more than 20 minutes inside. Check ahead if you want to ensure it's open - country churches can be unpredictable. Free to visit, naturally.

As part of a park holiday - say at The Grange Glamping just a few miles away - this fits neatly into a morning walk. Pair it with a longer ramble through the local farmland rather than treating it as a standalone destination. It's the sort of thing that makes sense when you're already out exploring rather than worth a special trip on its own.