Stonehaven Leisure Centre

The leisure centre sits right in Stonehaven itself, which is handy if you're based at the Queen Elizabeth Park campsite just down the road. It's a proper sports facility with a swimming pool, gym, and indoor courts - the sort of place you'd duck into if the Scottish weather turns grim, which, let's be honest, it does.

The pool is the main draw for families. It's not fancy, but it works. Kids can splash about while you grab a coffee in the café, and there are changing facilities that don't require a degree in logistics to navigate. The gym equipment is decent enough if you're serious about training during your holiday, though it won't rival anything in a city centre.

Really, this is a rainy-day solution rather than a destination in itself. You're not driving an hour to visit it. But if you're parked at one of the three excellent caravan parks in the area - Queen Elizabeth is literally five minutes walk away - and the forecast looks dodgy, it's worth knowing it's there. An hour or so will do it for most people.

Admission prices and exact opening times aren't publicly listed online, so ring ahead or check the Aberdeenshire leisure website before you go. It's functional, accessible, and honest - no pretence, just what a small coastal town actually needs.