North East Scotland Coastline and Countryside
This area offers a variety of scenery and walks, including long distance foot and cycle paths on cross-country routes. There are coastal walks with enormous sand dunes to climb and vast expanses of sandy beaches or cliff-top trails with hardly another soul in sight.
The beaches at Fraserburgh and St Combs are popular with all types of surfers - kite, wind and body. They have hosted rounds of the Scottish Wave Sailing Championships, and of the British Kite Surfing Association Championship.
The nearby nature reserve Waters of Philorth are situated south east of Fraserburgh. Open all year round, the reserve has foot paths providing access to Fraserburgh Beach - a 3 mile stretch of golden sands - one of the finest beaches in Scotland.
The Forest of Deer comprises Drinnies Wood, Louden Wood and White Cow Wood. There are many enjoyable walks to be had in all, with picnic areas and monuments along the way. Drinnies Wood Observatory was built in 1845 by Admiral George Ferguson. Folklore says that the Admiral erected the tower to watch his stables as his horses practiced for races. Whatever the reason, it now offers a panoramic view of Buchan for miles in all directions.
Designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, this is the largest dune slack pool in Britain. Separated from the sea by sand dunes it is fringed by fresh water marshes, salt marsh, fen woodland and farmland. The Loch of Strathbeg is an important migration staging post and wintering area for waterfowl with some 30,000 geese present at times. Also known for wintering Whooper Swans, other waterfowl present include Barnacle, Greylag and Pink-Footed Geese, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Goldeneye. Smaller numbers of Mallard, Pintail and other dabbling ducks including Sawbills can be seen. Around 300 Mute Swans moult on the loch in late summer.
Now enclosed with a perimeter wall, the Abbey of St Mary of Deer was built in 1218 by William Comyn, Earl of Buchan, for the Cistercian Order. Comyn chose to found Deer Abbey on the site of a Monastery established here some 600 years earlier by St Drostan, a follower of St Columba. It was here that the Book of Deer [or Deir] was written some time in the first half of the 10th century. The Book of Deer was discovered in 1860 and is now in the Fitzwilliam Museum Library in Cambridge.
Originally laid out in 1675 by Sir Alexander Seton, 1st Baronet of Pitmedden it was recreated in the 1950s under the guidance of the last Dr James Richardson from designs possibly used in the
gardens at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, in 1647.
There is also a Museum of Farming Life, Visitor Centre, Herb and Wildlife Gardens.
Slains Castle at Cruden Bay
Set on dramatic cliff tops adjacent to Cruden Bay, one of the most famous castles in Scotland, Slains was originally built in 1597 by the 9th Earl of Erroll. Subsequent Earls undertook much reconstruction with the final work being completed in 1837. It is said that the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula was Slains as he often holidayed in Cruden Bay. After being sold to pay death duties in 1916 the castle fell into disrepair and is now a splendid ruin. Beware walking here the cliffs are very dangerous and not a place for young children or loose dogs.
Ugie Salmon Fishings operates from the oldest salmon fish house in Scotland, dating back to 1585. Their traditional approach to smoked salmon production ensures a quality rarely encountered in these times of mass production. Well worth a visit.
Our situation at the NE tip of Aberdeenshire in addition to the east coast with its dunes and sandy beaches there is also the rugged diversity of the Banffshire coast to the north.
The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival - Portsoy
A community led festival not only with a marine theme but also incorporating music, song and dance, street theatre and much else. Held each year early in July.