The Pier

The pier at Stonehaven is a proper Victorian structure that juts into the North Sea like it's got something to prove. Built in 1887, it's all red sandstone and cast iron railings - the sort of thing that makes you understand why people bothered to engineer these things before we had concrete and shortcuts.

You walk out onto it and the sea just opens up around you. On a clear day you can see for miles along the Aberdeenshire coast. On a grey day, which is most days, it's moody and atmospheric in that Scottish way that photographs never quite capture. Fishermen use it year-round. The town's old harbour sits right beside it, which is worth a look on its own.

It's free to access, takes about 20 minutes to walk out and back unless you're the type to linger and watch the water. Kids enjoy it if they're past the age of needing constant activity - teenagers seem properly bored though. Walkers use it as part of their route along the coastline. History types will get a kick from the Victorian engineering.

Stay at Cloak Caravan Park or Upper Crawton Park, both within walking distance, and you're well-placed for exploring this stretch of coast. Stonehaven itself has a working fishing fleet and some decent fish and chips shops if you need feeding afterwards. The pier works best on a quieter day rather than peak summer season when the car park fills up and the charm gets a bit diluted.