Coastal Villages of Aberdeenshire

Explore the north Aberdeenshire coast During the first part of our journey, we make our way through the Aberdeenshire countryside, to the coastal villages of Gardenstown and Crovie. Built into the red sandstone cliffs the villages have a special and remote atmosphere. From the lovely harbour and beach, you can look out over the Moray Firth and perhaps catch a glimpse of the dolphins and other wildlife in the bay. The village of Gardenstown recently celebrated their 300th naming anniversary, and its harbour has a fleet of small fishing boats. On the quayside, you can occasionally see men preparing their lobster pots for the next catch, as well as the Salmon House which contains the Heritage Centre. We encourage you to take a walk along the coastal path which take you to Crovie, dating from the 18th century, if the tide allows. Crovie is the smallest and most remote of Buchan cliff-foot fishing villages, it comprises a single row of houses, most gable-end to the sea.

We need a Hero Pennan came into existence as a fishing village in the 18th century. The people of Pennan were dependent on the sea and most families had small boats, often multiple generations of the same family lived in the village. With a pebble stone beach and smart houses with colourful windows, there is a charm and peacefulness in the village that tempts you to linger and listen to the waves. Pennan became famous in the 1980s for being used as one of the main locations for the film Local Hero and representing the fictional village of Ferness. Film enthusiasts have come from all over the world to make a phone call in the red telephone box which featured in the film.

A busy harbour town The town name means, 'burgh of Fraser', after the Fraser Family who bought the lands of Philorth in 1504 and built the family castle at Kinnaird Head. The castle was later transformed into one of the first lighthouses in the northeast in 1787. Fraserburgh is very much an active harbour town, and you will have time to walk around the headland and see the lighthouse, the wine tower and foghorn while making your way past the busy harbour. There is an opportunity to have lunch and refreshments before we continue to our next stop.

Take a walk on the wild side The name Bullers of Buchan refers both to a collapsed sea cave and the little hamlet nestled beside. The collapsed sea cave forms an almost circular hole, about 30 metres deep, where the sea rushes in through a natural archway. The cliffs surrounding the Bullers provide nesting sites in spring for colonies of seabirds, including kittiwakes, puffins, fulmars, shags, razorbills and guillemots along with herring gulls and great black-backed gulls.

Smugglers and dramatic coastline Collieston provides the first safe harbour in over fifteen miles of beaches and dunes stretching north from Aberdeen. Fishing for herring, haddock, whiting and cod flourished in the 17th century and the village became known for 'Collieston Speldings', salted and sun-dried haddock and whiting, a popular delicacy. The numerous sea caves and small coves with shingle beaches provided ideal terrain for smugglers. Learn about notorious smuggler Phillip Kennedy and his exploits while trying to outrun the exciseman. With views of Aberdeen in the distance, a small bay and sea arch this is a great stop at the end of the day to round off our coastal villages.

Dramatic castles & sands An iconic feature of Cruden Bay is New Slains Castle, perched on the edge of the cliffs. We will take a walk from the village, along the path visitors to the castle would have taken for centuries. The castle is a blend of several different architectural styles and periods. Most of the building was constructed between 1597 and 1664. The castle fell in in ruin in the late 19th century, stripped of all contents and abandoned in the 1920s. Alternatively, you can take a more leisurely walk along the stunning beach. Cruden Bay beach is a vast expanse of soft, pale coloured sand. Why not try dipping your toes in the North Sea and feel the waves washing over your feet.