Macduff Arts Centre

The arts centre sits right in Macduff, a proper working fishing town on the Aberdeenshire coast that most tourists barrel past without a second glance. Inside, you'll find exhibitions of contemporary work alongside local artists, plus a decent cafe where you can actually sit down without being rushed. The space is small enough that you won't need more than an hour or so to see what's on, but it's genuinely worth popping in if you're staying at any of the nearby caravan parks - Myrus is practically on your doorstep, and Banff Links or Wester Bonnyton are just a couple of miles away.

Unlike the bigger city galleries, this place doesn't take itself too seriously. The programming includes everything from painting and sculpture to photography, and they often have artist talks or craft workshops running. It's the sort of spot where you might stumble across something unexpected rather than walk through room after room of the predictable stuff.

If you've got kids in tow, they'll probably want to move on after twenty minutes unless there's an interactive installation on. History types and anyone who actually cares about what local artists are making will get more from it. The real draw is the location - use it as a breather between a morning on the beach and lunch at the harbour, or combine it with a walk around the town itself, which has some lovely old architecture and working fishing boats still tied up at the pier. Check ahead for opening times and admission charges before you visit, as these can vary with exhibitions.