Portsoy Gallery

The fishing village of Portsoy has a proper art gallery tucked into its coastal heart, which is worth an hour or so if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks. It's a modest space that punches above its weight - local and contemporary work mostly, rotating exhibitions that actually feel curated rather than just hung on a wall. The sort of place where the person behind the desk will chat to you about the artists without being pushy about it.

You'll get the most from it if you're into visual art or photography, though there's usually enough variety that even reluctant gallery-goers won't feel dragged around. It's not a half-day commitment - thirty minutes to an hour is realistic, which makes it an ideal slot between a walk along the coast and lunch in Banff.

Families with teenagers might find something worth stopping for, but younger kids will likely lose interest quickly unless there's a particularly engaging exhibition on. The real strength is its position in Portsoy itself - arrive early morning before the light gets harsh on the water, spend time in the gallery, then walk down to the harbour. The whole village has that working fishing-port charm that's genuinely atmospheric.

Portsoy Links Caravan Park is barely a five-minute walk away, which is handy. Whitehills and Sandend Holidays offer slightly quieter bases if you want a bit more countryside feel while staying within the same stretch of Aberdeenshire coast. Check ahead for opening hours and admission fees - small galleries can be a bit fluid with their schedules.