Kincardine O'Neil Church

The kirk sits alone on a bend in the River Dee, all red sandstone and weathered quiet. Kincardine O'Neil Church dates back to the 13th century, which means it's been standing here watching the water pass for longer than most of us can properly fathom. The interior is simple - whitewashed walls, wooden pews, that particular smell of old stone and polish that you only get in Scottish country churches.

This isn't a showstopper attraction that'll hold your attention for hours. You're looking at twenty minutes, maybe thirty if you're the type who reads every plaque and takes photographs of the roof beams. But that's rather the point. It's a proper working parish church, not a museum piece, and there's something rather lovely about that - the sense that real worship still happens within these walls.

Historically minded visitors will appreciate the medieval architecture and the fact that you're standing in a building that's survived five centuries of Scottish weather and upheaval. Walkers will find it makes a solid waypoint on a Dee Valley ramble - Tullochvenus is the nearest settlement if you need facilities. Families with young children might find the quiet a bit much, though the riverside setting is pleasant enough for a brief stop.

If you're basing yourself at Aboyne Loch Caravan Park or Feughside, both nearby, it's well worth the short drive. Free to visit, open to the public, no particular time constraints. Go when the light's good on the sandstone - late afternoon works a treat.