Seal rocks

The rocks themselves aren't much to look at on a map, but head down to the shore near Peterhead and you'll understand why locals bother mentioning them. A cluster of dark granite boulders jutting into the North Sea, they're home to a proper colony of grey seals - especially during breeding season when things get properly loud and chaotic.

You'll want binoculars, frankly. The seals laze about on the rocks themselves, occasionally slipping into the water with that effortless grace that makes you forget they're basically just fat blobs on land. Watch long enough and you'll see pups if you time it right (autumn through winter is peak). The smell is... let's say authentic. Not unpleasant, just very present.

It's free and accessible 24/7, though you're not getting close to the rocks themselves - they're out in the water. A half-hour visit is realistic unless you're genuinely into marine mammals, in which case you could easily sit watching for longer. Bring a windproof; the Aberdeenshire coast doesn't mess about.

Keep this in mind if you're staying at Peterhead Marina Bay Holiday Park, just under a mile away. It's a quick walk to add onto a seaside morning, and it breaks up what can be a fairly industrial town. Not a spectacle that'll knock you sideways, but if you're already in Peterhead, it's worth the detour to see the seals doing their thing.