Stonehaven Shellfish & Boat Trips

The harbour at Stonehaven is where things actually happen. You can book a boat trip from here - proper fishing vessel, not some tourist ferry - and head out along the Aberdeenshire coast to see what's swimming about. The shellfish stalls work on the honour system mostly, fresh crab and lobster landed that morning, sold straight from weathered wooden stands by folk who've been doing it for decades.

It's honest work and it shows. You're not paying for atmosphere or a gift shop experience; you're buying dinner that was alive a few hours ago. The boat trips themselves tend to run in summer months and fill up quickly if the weather's decent - the North Sea doesn't wait for schedules.

Walkers and food types will get the most from this. Kids might enjoy spotting seals if you're lucky on the boat, though they'll get cold fast and there's nowhere to shelter properly. Allow three to four hours if you're combining a trip with lunch at one of the harbourside spots in town.

Stay at Stonehaven Queen Elizabeth Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite - it's barely half a mile from the harbour - and you can time your visit for when the boats are running. Upper Crawton Park and Cloak Caravan Park are slightly further out but less crowded. This works well as a half-day stop on the way between Aberdeen and the Mearns, not something to build a whole week around, but absolutely worth the detour if you're eating your way through Aberdeenshire.