Stevie's Walk

The walk along Stevie's stretch of the Aberdeenshire coast is one of those routes that sneaks up on you. It's not the kind of place with visitor centres or coach parties - just a proper nature reserve where the cliffs do the talking and the sea keeps things real.

You're looking at a coastal path that rewards walkers with genuine Highland scenery. The terrain shifts between woodland and open cliff-top, with the North Sea churning away below. In spring and early summer, the birdlife gets properly mental - razorbills, guillemots, and if you're lucky, puffins dotting the water like little feathered traffic. The walk itself demands decent boots and shouldn't be rushed; allow a couple of hours minimum, longer if you're stopping to photograph anything.

This is essentially a walk for people who actually enjoy walking, not those after Instagram moments. There's no playground, no tea room, no facilities to speak of. Which is rather the point. Families with confident walkers will manage fine; those with toddlers should probably look elsewhere.

Stoneheaven sits just down the road - proper little fishing town with fish and chips worth the detour - and the caravan parks cluster nearby. Stonehaven Queen Elizabeth Park is barely half a mile away, making this an ideal morning or afternoon loop from your pitch. The reserve is free to access, though the lack of official infrastructure means you'll want to come prepared. Best visited when the weather's cooperating and daylight's on your side.