Stonehaven

Friday, midday

Settle into your seaview room at the Marine Hotel (doubles from £121, marinehotelstonehaven. co.uk), which sits right down on Stonehaven’s historic harbours.

1pm

Tuck into fishy delights plucked from the North Sea outside at the Seafood Bothy food truck on the quayside. The platters come groaning with langoustines, crab, salmon, smokie, mussels and pate.

2pm

Ease by the fishing boats to the brilliantly reborn Tolbooth, a chunky edifice on the waterfront that now serves as a museum.

3:30pm

Continue north along the new wooden boardwalk, admiring the outdoor public art, ranging from steel dolphins through to metal fishing boats crewed by wee fish.

7pm

Dine in at the Marine on boat-fresh seafood. The white fish hails from Peterhead, with plump local lobster available if you order in advance.

Saturday, 10am

Hike up the cliffs, looking out for dolphins, and make your way south to Dunnottar Castle. One of Scotland’s most dramatically sited castles has caught the eye of Hollywood and it’s easy to see why as it juts proudly out from its own surf-lashed mound.

11am

Delve inside and learn about the castle’s pivotal role in Scottish history; surviving months under siege from Cromwell’s forces, sheltering the hallowed Stone of Destiny.

1pm

Picnic time. In this part of the world maybe time for a buttery? Works well with a dab of butter and a blob of jam.

3pm

Back towards Stonehaven check out the hulking war memorial that gazes out over the chill North Sea waters. The views are stirring and it’s a good place to spot marine mammals too.

7pm

Choose from two award-winning chippies: the Carron or The Bay. The platter at the latter features haddock, scampi and a fish cake. Best enjoyed with your toes dangling over the beach, fending off the seagulls.

Sunday, 10am

Join the locals enjoying the seawater delights of one of Scotland’s oldest open-air swimming pools. Mercifully it’s heated to a survivable 29C. It’s a full size 50m length Olympic pool too.