Mill Shore Beach

The beach at Mill Shore is one of those Aberdeenshire stretches where you can actually walk for miles without tripping over crowds. Situated just outside Banff, it's a proper working beach - rocky in parts, sandy where it counts - and the kind of place locals have known about for years while visitors sail straight past.

What you get here is genuine coastline. Rockpools to poke about in, decent walking if you head either direction along the shore, and views across the Moray Firth that don't require paying entry fees or queuing for car park spaces. The cliffs backing the beach give it some structure, and on a clear day the light across the water is worth the trip alone. Kids will spend hours turning over rocks looking for crabs and starfish. Adults might just stand still for a bit.

There's no formal amenity block or visitor centre - this isn't that sort of place. You show up, park locally, and make your own way down. Tides matter here, so check them before you arrive. Best visited when the weather's not throwing a tantrum, though even in drizzle the drama of the Aberdeenshire coast comes through.

Stay at Gamrie Bay Caravan Site or Shepherd's Loch Glamping just a few miles away, and Mill Shore becomes your morning or evening walk rather than a destination in itself. Pair it with Banff's actual attractions and you've got a solid couple of days exploring this underrated corner of the Scottish coast.