Date/Time
Date(s) - 04/03/201212:00 am
Walk Details
Pub Stop?: No O/S Map Sheet No.: 29 Grid Ref. Start: Grid Ref. Finish Walk (Miles): 11 Walk Hours: 5.5 Bus Time to Walk: Bus Time from Walk: Departure time from walk:Walk Notes
Our walk today takes in an interesting part of the Moray coastline, passing through the delightful villages of Findochty, Portknockie, Cullen, Sandend and finally Portsoy. Our route follows beaches, cliff paths and rough tracks – the first part from Findochty to Cullen is fairly level whereas the second part is more undulating and rough. We will be dropped off at Findochty and the bus will travel back eastwards to our pick-up point at Portsoy. If any member(s) should require a shorter walk, please advise your Committee member in charge of the bus so that early discussions can take place with the driver.
The walk commences in the village of Findochty near the harbour (NGR 463 679). Walk eastwards along Duke Street where we climb up to the top of low cliffs to follow a path along the clifftop. After about a mile, Tronach Head is rounded and the village of Portknockie comes into view. We walk along the road through the village overlooking the harbour below. Our route passes the headland of Scar Nose with fine views of the spectacular Bow Fiddle Rock on our left. A steep path with steps descends to the beach which is then followed for about a mile to the seatown of Cullen. The seatown or older part of Cullen is separated from the newer part by the embankment and high arches of the disused railway viaduct, which at one time carried the railway along the Moray Coast from Elgin to Aberdeen. Walk along the shore road towards Cullen’s little harbour and then continue along the shoreline and low cliffs to arrive at Logie Head. Rounding this headland, there follows more cliff paths before the path drops down to the sands of Sunnyside Bay. From here, the path ascends from the shore to gain the cliff tops again and continues eastwards to pass the ruins of Findlater Castle perched on its rocky headland. Continuing eastwards, our path rounds two more headlands – Crathie Point and Garron Point, before turning southwards into the village of Sandend. Keep heading southwards past the houses towards the caravan park where a path heads eastwards along Sandend Bay to eventually cross the Burn of Fordyce below the Glenlassaugh Distillary and the adjacent ruined windmill. Our route then runs through some low, grassy hillocks and then along rising cliffs towards Redhythe Point. A short distance beyond this point the path cuts inland along a rough track. At the first junction of tracks, turn left (eastwards) and head towards the houses of Portsoy about a mile away. Once into the town, head towards the Old Harbour where our bus will be parked at a convenient spot (NGR 589 663)