Montrose Basin, Wigeon Bird Hide

You'd be forgiven for walking straight past the Wigeon Bird Hide at Montrose Basin - it's basically a wooden box with windows - but step inside and you're suddenly part of something rather special. The hide overlooks one of Scotland's most important wetlands, and if you time it right, you'll see thousands of waders and wildfowl moving across the mudflats. Winter brings the real crowds of birds, though there's action year-round.

Birders will spend hours here with binoculars and notebooks, picking out rarities and tracking migration patterns. For families, it's honest work - you need patience and reasonable eyesight to make the most of it, so restless toddlers might find thirty minutes is their limit. Non-twitchers often come away surprised by how absorbing it is, even without knowing a redshank from a greenshank.

The hide is free to use, and there's no set visiting time - you can pop in for twenty minutes or settle in for the afternoon. The nearby town of Laurencekirk has the essentials for provisions. If you're basing yourself at The Grange Glamping & Animal Experience about six miles away, this makes a sensible morning outing before heading back for lunch. The walk to the hide itself is easy and flat, which counts for something in the Aberdeenshire weather. Go when you're fresh and the light's good - late morning or early afternoon usually works best. Don't expect facilities or facilities beyond the hide itself.