Local Highlights

The area has loads of places to visit if you fancy getting out and about. Highlights include;

A walk out to the light house at Rattray Head near Fraserburgh. The light house was engineered by David Alan Stevenson in 1895 to protect vessels from this dangerous stretch of coast. The dunes in the area are some of the most important in the UK and contain dune slacks filled with wild flowers, most notably a diverse array of orchids. Carry on walking South along the shore towards the gas terminal at St Fergus to see the four wrecks within one mile of the light house. The last of the wrecks has been identified as the Excelsior of Laurwig, a 462 tonnage Norwegian barque built in 1869. She ran aground between Scotstown Head and Rattray Head on 22nd November 1881.

 

 

The Loch of Strathbeg is the largest dune slack pool in the UK and the largest inland water body in the North East. The loch provides wintering habitats for a number of wetland bird species.

 

The Bullars of Buchan near Cruden Bay is a 40 metre deep chasm in the cliffs, created when the roof of a large sea cave collapsed. The paths are steep and narrow-TAKE CARE! The coastal path can be followed South from here to Slains Castle.

 

Forvie National Nature Reserve near Newburgh contains the 5th largest coastal dune system in Britain. The dunes and heath sit between the North Sea and the estuary of the River Ythan making the area particularly renowned for its birds. The reserve has a number of waymarked paths taking in the reserve and its historical remains, such as the 12th Century Kirk. Once there, a walk to the lovely Hackley Bay is a must, as is watching the ospreys fishing at the nearby Waulkmill bird hide (all abilities access).

 

 

Watching dolphins at Aberdeen Harbour mouth

Muchalls, approximately 5 miles North of Stonehaven has interesting rock pools and rock formations.

Dunnottar Castle- located 2 miles South of Stonehaven is an impressive ruin of a castle of which parts may date back over two thousand years. The ruin is situated on top of a large flat topped rock with shear drops on three sides.

The cliffs at Fowlsheugh Reserve 3 miles South of Stonehaven are a magnet for breeding seabirds in the spring and summer. Guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes breed in large numbers with smaller colonies of fulmars, puffins and shags.

The cliffs and sand dunes at St. Cyrus National Nature Reserve support a distinctive range of wild flowers and insects. A walk along the length of the beach to the North takes you to a waterfall and fantastic rock pools.

 

If you have somewhere in mind for a local highlight why not tell us about it and include a couple of photos.