Kilcreggan Pier

The pier juts out into the Firth of Clyde like a proper working harbour that's seen better days - and that's exactly its charm. Kilcreggan's waterfront is less manicured than you might expect from a Clyde marina, with fishing boats and small leisure craft bobbing about alongside the occasional yacht. The walk along the pier itself takes ten minutes, maybe fifteen if you stop to watch the water and the hills across the way.

It's the sort of place locals actually use rather than tourists queuing for selfies. You'll see people mending nets, families feeding gulls, the occasional angler hoping for something decent. The views back towards Helensburgh are decent enough - nothing that'll make you gasp, but proper pleasant on a clear day. Ben Lomond rises in the distance if you're into that sort of thing.

For a caravan holiday in the area, Kilcreggan works as a gentle morning wander before heading to one of the nearby parks - Rosneath Castle is just two miles down the road and well-rated. It's not a destination in itself unless you're genuinely interested in small harbours and maritime life. Kids will get restless after half an hour unless they're the sort who enjoy watching boats, which fair play to them. History buffs might appreciate Kilcreggan's role in Clyde shipping, but there's little interpretation on site.

Free to walk around, no facilities to speak of. Best visited in decent weather when the Firth doesn't look quite so grey.