St Cyrus National Nature Reserve visitor centre

The visitor centre at St Cyrus is your gateway to one of Scotland's most dramatic coastal reserves, perched on cliffs that drop sharply to a pebble beach and the North Sea beyond. It's a proper working nature reserve, not a theme park - the centre itself is modest, but that's rather the point. You're here for the landscape and wildlife, not gift shop theatrics.

The reserve protects rare plants and nesting birds, particularly in spring and early summer when terns and other seabirds make it mayhem in the best way. Walkers will find this genuinely rewarding. The cliff-top paths are straightforward and the views across to Montrose and beyond are the kind that make you understand why people choose Scotland. Allow two to three hours if you want to explore properly rather than just snap a photo and leave.

It works brilliantly alongside a park holiday in the area. St Cyrus Holiday Park is less than two miles down the road, making this an easy morning or afternoon outing without faffing about with car journeys. Royal Arch Riverside Park, further inland near Montrose, also puts you within striking distance if you want variety across a few days.

The centre itself is free to access, though specific opening times are worth checking ahead as staffing can be seasonal. Go when the weather's decent - it's coastal and exposed, so rain and wind aren't rare visitors. Even on a dull day though, there's something magnetic about standing on those cliffs watching the water churn below.