Parking Rosehearty

The car park at Rosehearty is genuinely one of those spots where you're better off leaving the engine running for a few minutes rather than rushing straight out. From the tarmac, you get proper views across to the cliffs and the Aberdeenshire coastline - the kind of vista that makes you realise why people bother with this corner of Scotland at all.

What you're actually looking at is a working fishing village with a nature reserve attached. The cliffs themselves are the draw - they're home to seabirds you won't see inland, and the rock formations are worth a proper look if geology interests you. It's free to park and wander the paths. Allow an hour minimum if you're the type who stops to identify every gull; half that if you just want the views and a stretch of legs.

Families with restless toddlers might find it a bit windswept and short on attractions - it's not a playground. Birdwatchers and coastal walkers, though, will find it absorbing. The walk out along the cliffs is manageable but can be bleak in weather, so pick your day.

Fraserburgh is just a few miles south if you need a coffee or fish supper. Either of the local holiday parks - Down On The Farm is closest at just over a mile away, or AC/DC Glamping if you fancy something more structured - make decent bases for exploring this stretch of coast. The reserve itself works best as part of a broader afternoon wandering the Aberdeenshire shoreline rather than a destination in its own right.