Stonehaven

Stonehaven is a handsome harbour town on the Aberdeenshire coast, known for its old harbour, its closeness to Dunnottar Castle, its Art Deco open-air heated pool, and its award-winning fish and chips. It's also the birthplace of the deep-fried Mars bar, and every New Year's Eve it holds its famous Hogmanay fireballs ceremony.

Stonehaven is about 15 miles south of Aberdeen, roughly a 25-minute drive on the A90. It pairs naturally with Dunnottar Castle on the cliffs a mile south, and both feature on Hopscotch's Aberdeenshire itineraries.

Stonehaven's Art Deco heated lido is one of the best in Scotland, open from late May to early September. The water sits at around 29C, and there's a diving board, water features and a poolside cafe. On a clear day the views stretch along the Aberdeenshire coast. It gets very busy in summer, so book ahead.

Every New Year's Eve, Stonehaven folk parade through the town swinging balls of fire in wire cages over their heads, then hurl them into the harbour as midnight strikes. The ceremony is thought to go back centuries as a purification ritual, and it draws big crowds as one of Scotland's most distinctive Hogmanay celebrations.