Coastal Walk: Cruden Bay to Peterhead
Date: Monday 26th December 2011
Time: 4Hrs 25Mins
I fancied a walk today to work off some of my overindulgence on Christmas Day. The weather forecast for the hills looked a bit pants, so I opted to swap hills for coast. The forecast for the North-East coast looked pretty-good so I drove this morning to Peterhead, the Blue Toon, where I parked beside the Health Centre/Hospital.
Walking the coast from Cruden Bay to Peterhead has been on my to do list for a number of years. To get to Cruden Bay, I caught the Stagecoach Bluebird bus (Cost: £2.70).
I got off the bus and started walking from the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel in Cruden Bay.
I didn't have a map with me today. This is normal practice for my coastal walks, as I like to explore
.
Kilmarnock Arms Hotel, Cruden Bay:
From the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel, I made my way along Harbour Street to get a view of the wonderful beach at Cruden Bay.
Over the years, I’ve visited Cruden Bay many times. It is one of my favourite villages in the North-East.
Harbour Street and Water of Cruden:
The tide was quite far in today but the beach still looked good.
Bay of Cruden beach:
Bay of Cruden beach:
As I made my way towards the harbour, I left the road to follow a grassy track overlooking the harbour and heading in the general direction of New Slains Castle.
Looking back to Cruden Bay:
New Slains Castle in the distance:
It wasn’t long before I reached my first obstacle of the day. It turned out to be easy enough to descend to the burn which I managed to cross without getting my feet wet.
First obstacle:
I’ve visited New Slains Castle a number of times previously but never from the South; it was nice to get a different view of the castle.
From Wikipedia: “Bram Stoker was staying in a local hotel in Cruden Bay when he heard of Slains Castle - which he saw as 'the castle of the dead'. It may have helped to inspire his writing of the novel, Dracula.”
Approaching New Slains Castle:
New Slains Castle:
On reaching New Slains Castle, I had a good look around inside.
Inside New Slains Castle:
View from inside New Slains Castle:
From New Slains Castle, I followed the track towards the New Slains Castle/Meikle Partans car park. This track avoids a large inlet.
Looking back to New Slains Castle:
The next section of coast was quite familiar to me as I have climbed previously at a number of its crags: Fulmar’s Wall, Meikle Partans, Harper’s Wall and Grey Mare Slabs.
View towards Meikle Partans, Twa Havens and Dunbuy:
Looking back to New Slains Castle from Meikle Partans:
Meikle Partans is possibly the best crag on this section of coast. It has a good number of climbing routes ranging from Moderate to E4. The last time I climbed at Meikle Partans was in 2007.
Photo from 2007, Katrina ascending Constellation (Sev) at Meikle Partans:
From Meikle Partans, I made my way along the coast towards the Arch of Dunbuy.
Looking towards the Arch of Dunbuy from Meikle Partans:
In summer, the Arch of Dunbuy is usually covered in birds.
The Arch of Dunbuy:
Inlet at Dunbuy:
The next familiar ground I reached was Grey Mare. There are several 30m Diff routes on the slabs at Grey Mare.
Looking back from Grey Mare:
Photo from 2007, UKC meet to Grey Mare Slabs:
Photo from 2007, myself climbing at Grey Mare Slabs:
Photo from 2007, more climbing at Grey Mare Slabs:
I had not previously walked North of Grey Mare; I was now into new territory.
Looking along coast towards Arthur Fowlie and Bullers of Buchan:
Another arch:
I was a bit surprised to find cottages just above the cliffs at Bullers of Buchan.
Cottages at Bullers of Buchan:
Coastal footpath sign:
From Wikipedia: “The name Bullers of Buchan refers both to a collapsed sea cave and to the adjacent village, situated about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Peterhead in Buchan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.”
Bullers of Buchan sign:
Despite the weather being dry and sunny, it was quite windy and the ground underfoot was muddy in places. There are a number of places where you really wouldn’t want to slip during this cliff-top walk.
Rocks at Bullers of Buchan:
View along coast:
On reaching the inlet in the next photo, for the first time since leaving Cruden Bay, I dropped down to the shore.
Stony shore:
Looking back, New Slains castle just visible in centre of photograph:
On reaching the sign for Longhaven Cliff’s Reserve, I realised how far I had still to go.
I have only once climbed at Longhaven. This was over ten years ago so my memories of Longhaven were a bit vague.
Longhaven Cliff’s Reserve:
Next I came to a memorial to two men who died while climbing the cliffs here in 1967.
Memorial to James Paterson and Alexander Hamilton:
The rock from Cruden Bay to Boddam is superb; good quality red granite. There is a large water-filled quarry at Longhaven where a significant volume of this granite has been excavated.
Cliffs at Longhaven:
Cliffs at Longhaven:
Longhaven Quarry:
Peterhead Power Station Chimney visible in distance:
The section of walk from North of Longhaven to Boddam was possibly the least interesting section of the walk.
Looking back:
Rocks North of Longhaven:
Looking North:
Steps ascending steep section:
A short distance beyond the steps, I joined the old railway line track which I followed for a couple of hundred metres.
Highland cattle:
Approaching Boddam:
On reaching Boddam, I took a short detour to have a look at the remains of Boddam Castle.
Boddam Castle (ruin):
I then made my way round the village towards Buchan Ness Lighthouse.
Buchan Ness Lighthouse:
Buchan Ness Lighthouse:
From Buchan Ness Lighthouse, I made my way along a path just above the shore skirting round the power station.
Approaching Peterhead Power Station:
Boddam harbour:
Looking towards Peterhead:
Just beyond the power station was a short tricky section to reach Sandford Bay; the key is to stay high.
Looking back to power station from Sandford Bay:
I enjoyed the walk along Sandford Bay. Next I skirted below Peterhead Prison before making my way back to where I had left my car earlier in the day.
HMP Peterhead:
Peterhead South Bay Harbour:
Peterhead Marina:
Peterhead Fishermen’s Memorial:
Peterhead Bay:
This is one of the finest sections of coast in the North-East. If undertaking this walk, you need to take care as much of the walk is within feet of the edge of cliffs.