Slains Castle (Dracula's Castle)

The ruins cling to a clifftop near Peterhead like they're determined not to fall into the North Sea. Slains Castle is what's left of a 13th-century fortress that Bram Stoker apparently used as inspiration for Dracula's castle - though honestly, the real appeal is the setting rather than any actual connection to the novel.

What you get is a proper scramble along a coastal path to reach the place. The walk takes about 20 minutes from the car park at Cruden Bay, and it's genuinely windswept and dramatic. Once you're there, the ruined walls give decent views back across the bay, and you can poke around the remains of rooms and passages. It's free to visit, which is the only way this works given there's no interpretation or facilities whatsoever.

History buffs will find the defensive layout interesting - the castle was built specifically to repel medieval attackers. Families with young kids will either love the adventure of it or find it a bit underwhelming depending on their tolerance for muddy scrambles. Walkers should definitely include it as a morning detour if you're exploring the Aberdeenshire coast.

The real selling point is combining it with Peterhead Marina Bay Holiday Park, just down the road. Spend an afternoon here, then head back for a proper meal in Peterhead itself. Don't expect much beyond atmospheric ruins and a good view - but that's exactly what makes it worth the walk.