The Quay Gallery

The Quay Gallery sits right on Stonehaven's waterfront, housed in a converted stone building that feels properly rooted to the place. It's a modest space - don't expect the sprawl of a city institution - but that's rather the point. The gallery shows work by local and Scottish artists, rotating exhibitions that tend to focus on painting, photography, and craft. You'll find everything from landscape paintings that actually capture the light on the Aberdeenshire coast to contemporary pieces that wouldn't look out of place in Edinburgh.

This is really for people who want to engage with art on a human scale, not the rarefied atmosphere of major galleries. Artists are often around, which means you can actually have a conversation about what you're looking at rather than just reading a placard. It takes maybe 30 minutes to an hour depending on how engaged you get - ideal if you're based nearby and fancy a cultural break between beach walks.

The location makes it work best for campers staying at Stonehaven Queen Elizabeth Park or Upper Crawton Park who want to head into town anyway. Park yourself on the front afterwards with fish and chips and watch the boats come in. No need to block out your whole afternoon, but it's the sort of place that sticks with you more than some grander establishments.