Heading along Scotland's northeast coast not far north of Montrose you'll find one of Scotland's most beautiful nature reserves and beaches. St Cyrus, which surrounds the Aberdeenshire village of the same name, stretches for miles and offers sand dunes, grassland, golden beaches and epic views aplenty.
Incredibly, there is another even more stunning sight not far from the northern tip of the beach that not many people will know about – especially those not local to the area.
The Den of Finella is a magical gorge and waterfall that really has to be seen to be believed; a natural wonder, it's steeped in mystery and folklore with the tale of a daring escape tied to the murder of one of Scotland's earliest kings.
Named for a local woman called Lady Finella, who is said to have been involved in a plot of revenge that had far-reaching consequences, its fast-flowing waters can be seen plunging to the depths beneath a stone bridge.
The story of the Den of Finella
Said to have been the daughter of the Earl of Angus, Finella's story is one of tragedy, which saw her son killed by the men of King Kenneth II, as punishment for a supposed transgression against the crown.
Enraged by the murder, Finella immediately began plotting her revenge and is said to have invited the King, who ruled Scotland from 971 to 995, to a residence in Fettercairn, where she set up a crossbow trap in one of the rooms to take him unawares.
When the King was eventually struck and killed by the bolt, Finella managed to escape fleeing from the King's men, desperate, she eventually managed to reach the bridge between the villages of St Cyrus and Johnshaven where she jumped around 75 feet to the waters below.
No one really knows if she survived, though some accounts have her eventually escaping to Ireland, while others have her being eventually caught and killed by Kenneth's men.
Where is the Den of Finella?
The stunning waterfall and gorge is a truly magical place found beneath the old stone bridge between the villages of St Cyrus and Johnshaven as mentioned above.
There is no parking, so it's better to park at one of the nearby village of St Cyrus and walk if you can, though you can park on the bridge itself but be careful, it's also advised that you don't park on the nearby driveway as this is the entrance to someone's house.
As with all gorges, it can be dangerous to climb down to, so extreme caution is advised with the route, which is particularly treacherous on wet weather days so wear sturdy footwear with good grip and be careful on your descent.
Below you will be rewarded with a stunning location that could have been ripped from the pages of some lost tropical world.
Many people even enjoy a wild swim here in the warmer months (not advised in autumn or winter time).
Don't miss the top culture and heritage stories from around Scotland. Sign up to our twice weekly Scotland Now newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
The pretty Scottish tourist town recently named one of UK's top picturesque spots for a staycation
What does the 'back of nine' actually mean? Even some Scots are confused by timekeeping term
The most haunted places in Scotland named with Edinburgh Castle topping list
The most in-demand Scottish areas to buy a house right now
Scots photographer snaps image of 'woman's face' in Cairngorms stream
