Half-moon Beach

The beach curves like a crescent moon, which is rather the point of its name. Half-moon Beach sits just south of Stonehaven, tucked between rocky outcrops that shelter it from the worst of the North Sea wind. It's a proper sandy affair - the sort of place where the sand actually stays put instead of blowing straight into your eyes.

You get decent views across the water, and on a clear day the light catches the cliffs in a way that makes you understand why people bother with this stretch of coast. The walk down isn't steep, which matters if you've got little ones in tow. Families will manage it fine, and there's room to spread out without feeling hemmed in by other visitors.

The real draw here is that it feels genuinely quiet. You won't find crowds or amusement arcades - just sand, rocks, and the sound of waves. Dog walkers and pensioners seem to favour it over the busier spots closer to town. Worth an hour of your time, easily, especially if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like Cloak or Upper Crawton, both barely a mile away.

Timing-wise, check the tide before you head down. High tide reduces the usable beach considerably, which can catch people out. Best visited in summer when the weather's actually cooperating. It won't take long to see what there is to see, but the peace of the place means most people stay longer than they expect.