Glenury Park

The walk down to Glenury Park catches you off guard. You're expecting something modest, but the ravine opens up properly once you commit to the path from Stonehaven - steep in places, yes, but nothing that'll wreck your knees. The river itself is the draw here. It's a proper nature reserve, the kind where you see roe deer if you're quiet and lucky, and the woodland closes in around you in a way that makes you forget you're barely a mile from the town.

This is walker territory, not a stroll-and-ice-cream situation. The gorge has real character - rocky outcrops, tree roots underfoot, the Cowie Water tumbling below. You'll want proper shoes and at least two hours to make it worthwhile, longer if you're the sort who stops to identify birds. It's genuinely peaceful, which counts for something when most of the north-east coast gets rammed with caravanners.

Staying at Stonehaven Queen Elizabeth Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site puts you right on top of it - the walk is practically from your pitch. Upper Crawton Park and Cloak Caravan Park are nearby if those are full. The reserve works well as a morning activity before heading to the coast proper. Not Instagram-famous, not crowded, and free to access, which is proper value. Best visited outside peak summer when the midges are less enthusiastic.