Beaches

The coast is a turning point on the Scottish map, guarding land tilled since the Stone Age. It watches over a land of pride and promise, home to a people whose aspirations down the centuries have created strong identity and entrepreneurial spirit. This Land by the sea creates a perspective of enormous skies filling the horizon. Suddenly there is land no more, just the last field chopped off a little beyond the next fence.

Not that you're always alone, for tiny villages suddenly spring forth, places like Gardenstown and Crovie, delightfully built gable-end on to the ocean. One of them, Pennan, found fame as the location for the film Local Hero. And yes, you can make a call from that phone box, just as Burt Lancaster did.

Instead golden sands sweeps in glorious stretches for what seems like miles (and frequently are): the beaches of St Cyrus, Balmedie, Rattray, Fraserburgh, Boyndie, Cullen, Lossiemouth and Burghead. These sandscapes remain invitingly empty, even in high season.