River Dee

The River Dee cuts through Aberdeenshire like a ribbon of proper Highland scenery, flowing from the Cairngorms down towards the coast. It's not a lake in the traditional sense - it's a river system that offers everything from gentle riverside walks to serious salmon-fishing stretches, depending on where you pitch up along its course.

Around Aboyne, the river transforms into something slower and more contemplative. You'll find yourself walking along banks lined with birch and pine, spotting red squirrels if you're lucky, with the occasional fisherman standing thigh-deep in the water. The whole thing is free to access - you simply park and go.

Families with younger kids will get a good couple of hours out of the easier riverside paths. Walkers and bird watchers can spend a full day here. If you're into fishing, this is serious business - the Dee is one of Scotland's finest salmon rivers, though you'll need permits and prior arrangement.

The real pull is how it anchors a caravan holiday in the area. Aboyne Loch Caravan Park sits just 1.6 miles away and offers direct access to the river walks. Firbank Park and Tarland Camping & Caravanning Club Site, both within five miles, give you flexibility while keeping the Dee within easy reach. Visit in spring for water levels and migrating birds, or autumn when the light turns everything golden. Summer's busier but the swimming spots are deeper then.