Ellon Wheel park

The Ellon Wheel sits beside the River Ythan just outside Ellon, and it's a proper spot for getting out on the water without the faffing about that comes with launching a proper boat. The wheel itself - a water wheel used historically for milling - is the focal point, though what really draws people here is the chance to walk the riverside paths and maybe spot wildlife along the banks. Otters, herons, the occasional osprey if you're lucky. It's the sort of place where you can kill an hour or half a day depending on energy levels.

The walk itself is gentle and flat, nothing that'll knacker the kids or grandparents. There's a real sense of the landscape here - you're surrounded by proper Highland scenery without having to climb anything. Ellon as a town is unremarkable, but this stretch of the Ythan Valley is genuinely worth the detour. If you're camping at Ythan Valley Campsite, which sits just down the road at under four miles out, this becomes an obvious morning walk before breakfast or an evening stroll when the light gets soft.

Timing-wise, go when the water levels are decent - late autumn through spring generally means the river's more interesting. Summer can be a bit sluggish. Bring binoculars if you're into birds; that's really where the rewards are. Free to wander, and you won't need more than ninety minutes unless you're doing the full valley circuit.