St Cyrus National Nature Reserve

The cliffs here are proper dramatic - russet-coloured sandstone towering above a shingle beach that stretches for miles along the Aberdeenshire coast near Montrose. St Cyrus National Nature Reserve is one of those places that rewards you for simply turning up and walking about without needing a plan.

You're looking at around two miles of coastline managed for wildlife, and the mix of habitats - cliff, beach, grassland - means there's always something to spot. Terns nest on the shingle in summer, which is genuinely brilliant if you time it right. The coastal path itself is straightforward and takes a good hour to do properly without rushing. Access is free and the car park minimal fuss.

Histor buffs get something too - there are old lime kilns dotted about from when this stretch was mined, remnants of industrial life now swallowed by nature. It's the kind of reserve where families won't get bored after twenty minutes because the beach keeps things interesting, but serious birders and botanists will find proper value in the species lists.

If you're staying at St Cyrus Holiday Park just down the road, this is an obvious morning walk before breakfast becomes a question. The reserve works year-round, though spring brings the nesting activity that makes it special. Wind can be sharp off the North Sea, so come prepared. It's unpretentious, genuinely useful as exercise, and the views across to Montrose and beyond are worth the walk alone.