Whitehills Parish Church

You'll find Whitehills Parish Church sitting quietly in this small Aberdeenshire village, just under a mile from Banff. It's the sort of place that rewards a quick stop rather than a lengthy expedition - a proper working church with the kind of understated Scottish character you won't find in the glossier tourist spots.

The church itself is typical of rural northeast Scotland - solid, unpretentious, built to withstand the North Sea winds that sweep across this coast. If you're into ecclesiastical architecture or local history, there's enough here to justify half an hour's nosing around, though don't expect grand stonework or elaborate decoration. What matters is the sense of place - this is where the Whitehills community has gathered for generations, and that continuity tells its own story.

It works best as part of a coastal wander through Banff and the surrounding villages rather than a standalone destination. The nearby caravan parks - Whitehills Caravan Park is essentially on the doorstep at half a mile, and Banff Links sits just over a mile away - make it handy if you're basing yourself in the area for a few days. Portsoy Links, four miles south, offers another decent option if you're exploring further along the coast.

Go on a clear day if you can, when the light's decent and the walk around the village is pleasant. Winter gets grim up here, and there's frankly not enough to detain you indoors if the weather turns. Families with young children might find it a bit of a snooze unless you're keen on churchyards and local gravestone inscriptions.