Lighthouse

The old lighthouse in Banff has been converted into a gallery space, and it's one of those places that works precisely because it doesn't try too hard. The building itself is the real draw - a proper working lighthouse with all the character you'd expect from something that's been warning ships off the Scottish coast for generations. Inside, rotating exhibitions use the tight circular rooms in ways that feel genuinely clever rather than forced. I've seen contemporary art installations that felt cramped in a gallery twice the size; here they breathe.

It's worth allowing an hour if you're actually going to look at what's on rather than just snap a photo on the stairs. The views from the top are excellent - you get a proper sense of why this spot mattered so much to mariners. Art types and history enthusiasts will find plenty to chew on, though I'd be honest: if you're dragging reluctant teenagers through Aberdeenshire, they might find it a bit quiet. That said, the novelty of climbing an actual lighthouse usually wins them over.

Based in Banff itself, you're minutes from Banff Links Caravan Park and Myrus Holiday Park over in Macduff. The whole stretch along the coast has that windswept, authentic Highlands feel - no theme parks, no fake heritage. Just proper coastal scenery and towns that haven't been over-prettified. The lighthouse fits right into that character.