Whitehills Marina

A working harbour on the Banffshire coast where fishing boats still tie up alongside leisure craft - that's Whitehills Marina. It's not a polished tourist attraction with gift shops and guided tours. What you get instead is the real thing: a proper working waterfront where you can watch boats come and go, wander the harbourside, and grab lunch at one of the cafes overlooking the water.

The marina sits just outside Banff, a small coastal town that's seen better days but has genuine character. If you're staying at Whitehills Caravan Park right next door, you're perfectly placed for a morning stroll down here. The walk takes five minutes. Families with young kids will manage half an hour pottering about, watching the boats and maybe spotting an osprey if you're lucky. Serious photographers and boat enthusiasts could spend longer, especially if the light's good and a fleet's coming in.

It's free to walk round. The cafes charge for coffee and food, which is fair enough. Tide times matter here - low tide can look a bit sad and muddy - so check before you go. Summer months are best for actual activity on the water.

Whitehills fits well into a wider Aberdeenshire park holiday. You're close enough to Banff Links Caravan Park if that suits you better, and Portsoy Links is only four miles along the coast. The surrounding countryside - fishing villages, decent walks, the Moray Firth coastline - makes this part of Scotland worth a few days rather than a quick stop.