Sanine Beach

The beach at Sanine stretches out with that particular kind of Scottish grandeur - all golden sand, rock pools, and an honest stretch of North Sea horizon. It's the sort of place where the light changes every ten minutes and you genuinely can't predict whether you'll need a jumper in August. The sand is proper firm, good for walking, and the rocks at either end create natural windbreaks if you time it right with the tides.

Walkers love this stretch. The beach connects well to nearby routes, and it's far enough from Banff town centre to feel remote without being awkwardly remote. Families with younger kids will get a solid few hours out of it - the rock pools are decent, the beach is safe enough, and there's enough space that you won't feel crowded even in summer. Teenagers will find it a bit quiet unless the swell's up.

Sanine works brilliantly as part of a caravan park stay in the area. Sandend Holidays sits just a mile down the coast, which is genuinely convenient for a morning swim or an evening walk. Portsoy Links and Whitehills are slightly further out but still within easy reach if you're based there for a week. The beach doesn't require booking or payment - you just turn up and go. Early morning is your best bet if you want it to yourself, or aim for late afternoon when day-trippers have cleared off. Allow an hour minimum, though you could happily spend half a day if the weather holds.