West Links, Playground

The playground at West Links is a proper beachside affair, tucked behind the dunes near Arbroath with direct access to the sand and shingle. You get the usual kit - swings, slides, climbing frames - but what makes it worth stopping for is the location itself. Kids can sprint from the play equipment straight onto the beach, which means you're not fighting them back to the car afterwards. The whole setup feels genuinely thought through rather than bolted on as an afterthought.

It's free and there's no faffing about with opening times - just rock up. Allow an hour if you're stopping with younger children; older kids might lose interest faster unless the beach is calling them. The wind can be relentless here, so don't expect ice cream to stay on the cone for long.

For families staying at The Grange Glamping nearby - six miles south - this makes an easy morning outing without a serious commitment. It's not going to occupy a teenager for long, but for under-eights it's the kind of spot where they'll actually wear themselves out. The beach beyond the playground is the real draw though. Once they've tired of the equipment, you've got miles of sand to explore, rock pools to investigate, and the kind of space where everyone can breathe.