My husband and I moved from England to this area of Scotland in 2002 and have never looked back. The area is quiet - but still has plenty to do. The scenery is just stunning and we love being by the sea!

Sandend Cottage is the only place where my husband and I argue about who gets to do the washing up, both of us wanting to do it - even though there is a dishwasher! Standing at the kitchen sink, the view out of the window is mesmerising - and always changing, dependent on whether the tide is in or not, the weather conditions and the time of year - tho' the surfers are out there pretty much year round if the waves are right! Tho' if the weather is fine, the bench on the rockery terrace is an even better place to observe the beach... If you like to sleep in perfect silence, this is perhaps not the cottage for you... I drift off to sleep listening to the sound of the waves, stones rattling over stones, just under the window. There is nothing much in the village, a few houses nestled around the pretty 17th century harbour, a caravan park with a small shop only open in the summer months and a fish merchants, where you can buy the freshest of fish, but it is only a couple of miles to the neighbouring coastal towns of Cullen or Portsoy

The thing about Sandend Cottage is the view! I can stand for hours by the window, just looking out. At high tide, there may be a surfer or two just in front of you (whatever the season, they are a hardy bunch these North East surfers!) At low tide, it's the wide expanse of beach, usually pretty deserted, with just the occasional walker or dog! And you can lie in bed, listening to the sounds of the sea, whether it is water moving stones over the rockpools of the gentle crashing of the waves on the beach. Conditions are always changing and it is a photographer's delight. National Geographic describes this as "one of the world's top-rated coastlines" with its rugged cliffs and sandy bays and a string of seaside towns and fishing villages, just asking to be explored. There is abundant wildlife, including the ever popular seals, dolphins and puffins, but there is also a strong sense of community, you will hear the Doric widely spoken. Large scale fishing here has largely moved on, but the 17th and 18th century harbours give testament to the Baltic trade and herring fleets. The oldest houses are built gable-end on to the weather and waves. It's an often overlooked area, so unspoilt!