Deskford Church

The carved stone cross that greets you at Deskford Church is genuinely striking - a Pictish symbol stone dating back over 1,200 years, standing in the graveyard like something from another world entirely. This small parish church near Banff sits in a quiet corner of Aberdeenshire, and the real draw is that ancient stone, which features intricate symbols that archaeologists still puzzle over.

You're looking at maybe 20 minutes here unless you're into serious stone carving archaeology, in which case you could spend longer photographing the details and trying to decipher what those Pictish marks actually mean. The church itself is modest - the current building dates from the 18th century - but it's the setting that works: peaceful graveyard, proper rural, the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think.

This works best if you're already exploring the wider Banff area or staying at one of the nearby parks - Sandend Holidays and Greencraig Pods are both within five miles and well-regarded. It's the sort of stop you'd combine with a coastal walk or a visit to Banff itself rather than drive out specially for, but if you're caravan-based in the region and interested in Pictish history, it's absolutely worth a quick detour. Free admission, no facilities to speak of, best visited in daylight.