Lady's Cave

The walk down to Lady's Cave near Arbroath is honestly better than the cave itself, though that's not meant as criticism. You're clambering down a proper coastal path with the North Sea churning away below, red sandstone cliffs either side of you, and then suddenly there's this narrow opening in the rock face. Inside it's cool and damp - bring a torch, the opening doesn't throw much light deep in. The cave itself is modest. You're not talking about vast chambers or geological drama here. What you get is a small, atmospheric space where medieval pilgrims apparently came to venerate a statue of the Virgin Mary. There's something about the quietness of it that gets to you though, especially if you time it right and avoid the school holidays.

Walkers will find this worthwhile - the coastal path either side of the cave is the real draw, with decent views back towards Arbroath. Kids will manage the scramble down if they're over about eight, but they'll need to be into the outdoors rather than expecting an attraction with facilities. There's no charge that I'm aware of, and you can do the whole thing - walk, cave, back again - in a couple of hours tops.

If you're based at The Grange Glamping just down the road, it's an easy morning outing before heading elsewhere. The Angus coast has better attractions than this cave alone, but pair it with a wider walk and you've got a solid half-day.