Troup Head is an RSPB reserve on the dramatic sea cliffs a couple of kilometres east of Crovie. The cliffs rise to over 100 metres and host one of the largest seabird colonies on the British mainland: more than 1,500 pairs of gannets, plus guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars, puffins and shags. In late spring and early summer the noise and the smell are overwhelming, in the best possible way.
The access road comes off the B9031 between Macduff and Pennan; from the car park a path of about a kilometre leads across grazing land to the cliff edge. There are no railings — keep dogs on leads and children close. Bring binoculars, a windproof jacket, and patience: dolphins and minke whales are sometimes visible from the headland in summer.