Compass Rose

The Compass Rose sits right on Banff's seafront, a striking landmark that catches you immediately whether you're arriving by car or wandering along the coast path. It's essentially a large sculptural installation - a proper focal point that marks the town's connection to the sea and its maritime heritage. The thing does what it says on the tin: it's a compass, bold and geometric, the kind of public art that doesn't require a lengthy interpretation panel to work.

You're not talking about a major attraction that'll consume half your day here. A visit amounts to a walk round it, a few photos if it's your thing, and maybe ten minutes taking in the views across the Moray Firth. The real value is practical - it's a good reference point if you're exploring Banff on foot, and it makes a decent stretch break if you're staying at Whitehills Caravan Park just down the road. From there it's barely a five-minute stroll.

Walkers get the most from it, particularly those doing the longer coastal routes that connect the caravan parks dotted around this stretch - Banff Links is just over a mile away, and Portsoy Links further along. The seafront itself is what matters; the Compass Rose is simply where you pause and get your bearings.

Locals and long-term visitors probably appreciate it more than passing tourists, to be honest. But if you're based at one of the nearby sites and the weather's decent, it's worth the walk to see what the town considers important enough to mark in stone and steel.