Hillside Parish Church

The church sits on high ground just outside Montrose, commanding views across the Aberdeenshire landscape that alone make the short detour worthwhile. Stone walls and a modest steeple, nothing flashy, but there's real character in the way it anchors this corner of the Scottish Highlands.

Inside, it's exactly what you'd expect from a rural parish church - hymn books stacked in wooden racks, memorial plaques on the walls, that particular smell of old stone and floor polish. If you're into ecclesiastical architecture or local history, you'll find enough detail to occupy twenty minutes. For most visitors, ten will do.

The approach is pleasant enough for a short walk, especially if the weather holds. Kids won't complain if you're passing through, though there's nothing here to hold their attention if boredom is already setting in.

It's best treated as an add-on rather than a destination in itself - perhaps on the way between Montrose and St Cyrus Holiday Park, which sits just four miles away and makes a solid base for exploring the coast. If you're staying in the area anyway, worth a quick stop. If you're planning a day trip specifically to see this church, you might be disappointed. There are stronger draws in the Highlands.