Boddam Diving

The diving platform at Boddam sits right on the rocky Aberdeenshire coast, just south of Peterhead, and it's exactly what it sounds like - a proper old-school diving board jutting out over cold Scottish water. Locals have been launching themselves off here for decades, and on a decent day you'll see swimmers and divers making the leap into the North Sea.

It's not a manicured tourist attraction. There's no fancy facilities, no café, no changing rooms to speak of. What you get is raw coastal access and a genuine slice of how people actually use this stretch of shore. The platform itself is sturdy enough, the water's clean if you're keen, and the surrounding rocks make for decent exploration if diving isn't your thing.

This is really for the hardy and the curious rather than families with young kids - the water is cold year-round, and there's not much to do if you're not planning to get wet. Serious swimmers and diving enthusiasts will find it worthwhile; casual visitors might find it a bit underwhelming on its own. The real appeal is bundling it into a coastal walk along the cliffs, where the views across to Kinnaird Head and the old lighthouse actually earn the trip.

If you're staying at Peterhead Marina Bay Holiday Park, it's only a short drive south. Combine it with a wander round Peterhead harbour itself - the fish market's worth an hour - and you've got a decent half-day sorted.