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Salty water and sandy toes – there’s nothing quite like a Scottish seaside holiday. And while summer is drawing to a close, we don’t think that the seaside should only be enjoyed a few weeks of the year.

Whether you visit in spring, summer, autumn or winter, there’s always something happening in Stonehaven. It’s a great place for families to visit and if the sun isn’t shining…just wrap up warm!

Here’s our top tips for enjoying traditional seaside activities that we have right here on our own doorstep in this fantastic, friendly town.

Visit the beach

The beach isn’t just for sunbathing on! Stonehaven beach is wonderful at any time of the year and is great to explore. You never know what you might find: a discovery of a fossil from the oldest known land animal – a species of millipede – was made on this very beach in 2004.  But if fossil hunting isn’t your thing, you could always grab buckets and spades and challenge your family to a sandcastle competition. The best builder gets an ice cream – the worst has to paddle up to their knees in the sea!

Eat an ice cream

Regardless of whether or not you’ve shown off your sandcastle building prowess, no trip to the seaside is complete without an ice cream. We thoroughly recommend E. Giulianotti on Evan Street. It’s been around for 120 years so is something of a Stoney institution. This shop not only sells the ice cream that we are proud to serve here at The Ship Inn but is also a treasure trove for those with a sweet tooth.

Swim in the great outdoors

The clock is ticking down to the end of another season for the Stonehaven Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool, so if you want to have a swim this year you need to get there fast. The art deco lido is simply a must if you can’t bear to go swimming in the North Sea – the temperature in the water is warmer than the Med!

Stroll along the beach boardwalk

This wooden path lines the edge of the beach and is a great place to take in the sights of the seaside and not get sand in your shoes. While walking along the route, you’ll see a collection of metal sculptures. For many years the identity of the artist was a secret but Stonehaven’s Banksy recently revealed himself as local man – and Ship Inn regular – Jim Malcolm. They are a fantastic addition to the boardwalk, which will soon be getting a bit of a revamp to repair wear and tear caused by the sea, sand and wind.

Eat fish and chips

We may be biased, but in our opinion our very own Captain’s Table offers the best fish and chips in town!  We take locally sourced haddock and serve it in crispy batter or breadcrumbs – whichever you prefer – along with chunky chips and peas. It may be simple, but we firmly believe that – cooked just right – there is no better meal on the planet!