Portessie Beach

The beach at Portessie is one of those Scottish stretches that doesn't shout about itself, which is precisely why it's worth the detour from Buckie. You get a proper working fishing village atmosphere - colourful boats still moor here, nets dry on the shore, and the whole place smells of salt and honest work rather than tourist trinkets.

It's a small, sheltered cove with a mix of sand and shingle, backed by low cliffs. The water's cold but the rock pools are brilliant for kids, especially when the tide's out. There's something rather meditative about wandering along here without the crowds you'd find at more famous Aberdeenshire beaches further south.

Walkers will find good coastal paths heading both directions - nothing too strenuous, and the views back across the Moray Firth are solid rather than spectacular. Bring binoculars if you're into seabirds; cormorants and guillemots work these waters regularly. The village itself has a couple of shops and cafes, so you won't go hungry.

This isn't a destination in itself - it's the sort of place you'd slot into a longer coastal ramble or a park-based holiday in the area. Greencraig Pods, only a few miles away, makes a decent base for exploring this stretch of coast. Portessie rewards a quiet morning visit far more than a summer afternoon, when even this low-key spot gets a bit busy. Allow an hour or two, depending on whether you're serious about the rock pools.