Lunan Bay

The walk down to Lunan Bay catches you off guard. You're ambling through fields near Arbroath, nothing spectacular, then suddenly the coastal path drops away and there's this sweeping crescent of sand with the North Sea rolling in. It's a proper beach, the kind you don't expect to find so easily accessible on the Aberdeenshire coast.

The main draw is the sheer space of it. Come at the right time - early morning or when the weather's turning - and you'll have it to yourself. The sand is firm enough to walk on, the cliffs behind are dramatic without being show-offy, and if you've got kids they can run about for hours without worrying about crowds. Photography types will find plenty to work with, especially when the light's coming from the north and catches the water.

In the middle distance sits Red Castle, a medieval ruin that's visible from the beach itself - that alone makes for interesting conversation as you're walking. The whole thing takes about an hour round trip from the car park, depending on how long you dawdle.

Free to visit, obviously. Best avoided at high tide if you want proper beach time - check the tide tables before you go. It's the kind of stop that works brilliantly as part of a wider Aberdeenshire coastal circuit rather than a destination in itself. If you're staying at The Grange Glamping just down the road, it's practically on your doorstep and worth a morning visit before the place gets any busier.