St Donan's Church and Duff Mausoleum

The churchyard at St Donan's sits quietly on the edge of Turriff, and it's the Duff Mausoleum that stops you cold. This isn't some modest stone box - it's an absolute fortress of a thing, a proper Victorian statement wrapped in granite and topped with a pyramid roof that dominates the whole graveyard. The church itself is older, dating back centuries, but it's the mausoleum that grabs your attention and won't let go.

Inside the grounds you'll find yourself wandering among gravestones that tell the story of local families who clearly had money and weren't afraid to spend it on their final resting places. The craftsmanship is genuinely impressive - carved angels, intricate lettering, the lot. History buffs will find plenty to photograph and ponder, though it's not somewhere that will keep you occupied for hours on end.

The appeal is relatively niche, truth be told. If you're into churchyard exploration and Victorian-era monuments, you'll find it worthwhile. Kids might get a bit restless after ten minutes unless they're particularly interested in gravestones and architecture. It's free to wander round, which is always welcome, and works well as a short stop if you're based at Turriff Caravan Park or passing through the area.

Best visited on a clear day when the light catches the mausoleum properly and you can actually read some of the inscriptions. Worth twenty minutes of your time if you're in Aberdeenshire, but don't plan your trip around it.