The Brae Steading

Aberdeenshire's coast combines sandy beaches, fishing villages and castle country within easy reach of quiet inland settlements. Fordyce, a conservation village laid out along medieval lines, sits just over a mile from the Moray shore. The Brae Steading occupies a converted barn on the edge of the village, standing in an acre of private grounds with views across farmland and towards the sea.

The single bedroom has a king-size bed; there is one shower room. Ground-floor living means the main living space opens through French doors onto a sitting-out area where you can use the garden furniture and barbecue. The kitchen is equipped for self-catering and there is a washing machine in the porch. A hot tub sits in the grounds. One well-behaved pet stays free of charge. Wi-Fi, heating, bed linen and towels are included. The property does not permit smoking.

Sandend beach, popular with swimmers and surfers, is a 45-minute walk or short drive away. Portsoy and Cullen, both old fishing settlements, lie along the coast with good walking routes between them. Inland, you're within reach of castles, distilleries and golf courses. Fordyce village itself has a park and Victorian garden; a bistro is a ten-minute walk from the cottage.