A flexible guide to coastal day trips north of Aberdeen, featuring cliffs, dunes, beaches, and castle ruins that work just as well alone as combined into an unplanned day shaped by time, weather, and light.

There are places you visit once, and places you return to again and again. Glen Doll belongs firmly in the second category. For many people, the relationship with this glen begins long before boots touch the ground. The drive up through Glen Clova towards Glen Doll is part of the experience. Leaving the coast and farmland behind, the glen draws you steadily inward, the landscape changing in quiet stages rather than with any single reveal.

House-sitting is often presented as a free way to travel, sometimes as a travel hack. In reality, it’s neither of those things. House-sitting is a specific way of travelling that comes with responsibilities, boundaries, and trade-offs. It suits some people extremely well and others not at all. I’ve used house-sitting as part of how I travel over the past couple of years, mainly in Scotland and occasionally further afield.

Route Summary Start point: Glen Doll car parkDistance: 8.8 milesElevation gain: 906 mRoute map: OS Maps plotted routeTerrain: Forest track, hill path, open plateau, mountain path Navigation notes: Careful navigation required on the plateau and around the summit of Driesh, particularly in poor visibility A note on planningThis route description reflects my own experience and is not intended as instruction.

Micro-campers appeal to people who want flexibility without excess, and freedom without committing to a large vehicle. They sit between car camping and full van conversions, offering just enough space to rest, reset, and move on again. If you’re considering a micro-camper, the questions you’re likely asking tend to arrive in stages. Is this kind of setup right for how I travel?

Disclaimer: This jacket was provided by Mac in a Sac for review. Finding a warm winter jacket that works just as well for everyday wear as it does for hiking is not always straightforward, especially at the more affordable end of the market. I’ve been testing the Mac in a Sac Summit Women’s Packable Down Jacket across a mix of cold-weather use, from winter walking in mixed conditions to wearing it day to day during colder spells.

I spent two months living in a hostel in Vancouver. Not as part of a long, drifting trip, but because I was there for a fixed research exchange at the University of British Columbia, with a clear reason to be in one place and a daily structure already in place. Vancouver is an extraordinary place, but it is also prohibitively expensive.

Route Summary Start point: Glen Doll car parkDistance: 12 milesElevation gain: 812 mRoute map: OS Maps plotted routeTerrain: Distinct forest and upland tracks, boulder field near Broad Cairn summitNavigation notes: Care required when descending boulder field area in poor visibility A note on planningThis route description reflects my own experience and is not intended as instruction.

If you’ve ended up on this page, it’s likely because you clicked on something marked beginner-friendly and wanted to see what else was here. That might be because you’re new to getting outdoors, because you’re coming back to it after a while, or because you enjoy being outside but don’t always recognise yourself in the way outdoor content is usually presented.

One of the first questions people ask when they hear about solo travel in a micro camper is whether it feels unsafe. The honest answer is that it can, at times, but rarely for the reasons most people expect. Sleeping alone in a vehicle, often away from campsites and familiar places, naturally brings a different set of considerations than traditional accommodation or tent camping.

North East Scotland offers a rare sense of variety within a relatively compact area. Along the coast, traditional harbours, cliff paths and long beaches sit close together, while inland glens and corries rise quickly into quieter, more rugged landscapes. Small towns and village bases connect these environments, making it possible to shape trips around time, weather and energy levels rather than fixed itineraries.

Arbroath sits on the Angus coastline with a mix of dramatic sea cliffs, quiet beaches, sheltered woodland walks and one of Scotland’s most significant historic landmarks. At first glance, it can feel like a town you pass through rather than pause in, but its real appeal lies just beyond the obvious routes. This is a place where red sandstone cliffs give way to hidden bays, expansive beaches stretch north and south of the harbour, and small, local paths lead to unexpectedly peaceful corners close to town.

Disclaimer: these boots were gifted to me by Oboz with no obligation to review. I’m sharing my experience after several months of use across varied conditions. When the Bridger Ridge Mid GTX arrive…

Wild camping is one of those outdoor activities where your gear naturally evolves as you gain experience. I’ve refined what I carry through cold nights, pack faff, and plenty of trial and error. The equipment listed here is what I now rely on, items I’ve used repeatedly in Scottish conditions. Each one is reliable, functional, and suited to my solo trips.

A 3-day Aberdeenshire winter itinerary featuring coastal walks, castles, wildlife, Newburgh Beach and the Bennachie summits. A perfect short winter escape.

I’ve passed through Ballater countless times, usually on my way to somewhere else, but staying there for a weekend completely changed how I see it. It isn’t just pretty (although it absolutely is), it’s the way the whole place seems designed for people who want to explore on foot. A well-established network of paths begins right in the village, with clear waymarking and plenty of choice in terrain, distance, and difficulty.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether it’s too late to start getting outdoors, this is for you. If you’ve been watching people summit mountains, camp under the stars, or navigate their way across rugged trails and thought, “That looks amazing… but I don’t know where to start,” this is your sign. Because the outdoors isn’t reserved for those who’ve been doing it their whole lives.

If you haven’t already, I recommend checking out my first post My DIY-Converted Micro Camper: Tips for Beginners for the story behind why I built Bluebell and the big-picture lessons from my build. This post is a deeper dive into the nitty-gritty of the build itself: the materials I used, how I measured and planned everything, the upholstery and cushions, kitchen setup, lighting, and more.

If you’ve ever daydreamed about campervan life but felt overwhelmed by the cost or scale of it, this post is for you. When I built my first micro camper, a 2012 Citroën Berlingo named Bluebell, I had no prior experience, a small budget, and a lot of determination. She became so much more than a van. Bluebell gave me freedom, opened the door to countless adventures around Scotland, and quite honestly, helped me turn my life around after a difficult period of illness.

If you're looking for a peaceful, functional base to explore Ballater and the Cairngorms, the Willow's Nordic Shepherds Hut might just be the perfect spot. I stayed here recently and was surprised by how much this little hut offered. It’s not just about the cosy space, but also the amazing location that allows you to explore the area on foot, without worrying about finding parking.

Spending time in the outdoors has always been my way of resetting. I work at a computer most days, so I’ve learned to protect the time I get to spend outside fiercely. It’s how I reconnect with som…

When I first started taking the outdoors seriously, I didn’t have outdoor friends. No group chats were buzzing about weekend hikes, no seasoned winter hikers offering to help me choose crampons or talk about kit over coffee. It was just me. Me, a lot of curiosity, and very basic kit. If you're at the beginning, feeling like you're not "outdoorsy enough" or unsure where to start, I’ve been there.

Solo wild camping is something I’ve grown into over time. It didn’t start with a big dramatic adventure. It was a slow build, learning from friends, and shared camps. Most importantly, observing wh…

I recently spent a weekend in Ballater for a first aid course and decided to make the most of being in the area by sticking around for a few days. I’ve driven through plenty of times and stopped for coffee, but never properly explored. I had no idea how much I was missing. What I found was a brilliant mix of peaceful and varied walking routes, good food, and a quirky shepherd’s hut stay.

The accommodation written about in this post was part of a PR stay I was invited for a PR stay at the Stratheck Holiday Park by Aygyll Holidays in May 2024. This blog post is not part of the conten…