Links Park

The dunes at Links Park stretch for miles along the Aberdeenshire coast near Montrose, and they're genuinely impressive if you catch them on a decent day. You're looking at proper sand dunes here, the kind that shift with the wind and support some rare plants - marram grass, sea rocket, that sort of thing. It's a nature reserve, so there's serious ecological value beneath what looks like just beach and scrub.

Walkers will find it absorbing. The paths wind through the dunes and down to the shore, and you get real views across the North Sea. Birdwatchers rate it highly - waders and terns depending on season. If you've got kids, they'll entertain themselves scrambling on the dunes for a good hour or two, though it's not a traditional "attraction" with facilities or anything.

There's no charge to visit, which is standard for Scottish nature reserves, and you can pretty much turn up whenever. Early morning or late afternoon is best if you want solitude, though the wind can be fierce so pick your timing. Allow two to three hours if you're doing a proper walk rather than a quick potter.

If you're staying at St Cyrus Holiday Park just down the coast, this is an easy add-on. The two reserves complement each other well - Links Park is wilder and less developed, so depends what mood you're in. It's real east coast Scotland rather than a polished visitor experience, which is either exactly what you want or not at all.