Mill Shore

The beach at Mill Shore stretches out with that particular mix of golden sand and grey shale you get along the Aberdeenshire coast - proper atmospheric in the right light, especially when the tide's out and the whole bay opens up. It's a working fishing village kind of place, unpretentious, with proper locals who actually use the beach rather than just photographing it.

You'll find rock pools scattered across the foreshore when the tide's low, which keeps younger kids occupied for a good hour or so. The walking's solid too - the beach connects to coastal paths that wind up towards Banff, offering that rugged northeast coast experience without the heaving crowds of better-known spots further south. The views back across the bay are worth the walk in either direction.

There's no particular infrastructure here - no visitor centre, no facilities to speak of - which is exactly why it works. You're meant to turn up, walk, breathe the sea air, maybe have a poke about the rocks. It's free, obviously, and you can visit whenever you fancy. Autumn and winter hit differently here; the light's lower, moodier, and you'll likely have the place to yourself.

If you're camping nearby - Gamrie Bay Caravan Site sits just 3.2 miles away, or there's AC/DC Glamping if you want something with a bit more comfort - Mill Shore makes a proper morning's jaunt before breakfast or a late afternoon wander. Combine it with Banff's granite architecture and you've got yourself a proper northeast coast day sorted.