Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/01/201012:00 am
Walk Details
Pub Stop?: No O/S Map Sheet No.: 30 Grid Ref. Start: Grid Ref. Finish Walk (Miles): 12 Walk Hours: Bus Time to Walk: Bus Time from Walk: Departure time from walk:Walk Notes
The walk today follows part of the trackbed of the former Formartine and Buchan Railway which ran from Dyce to Peterhead and Fraserburgh but was eventually closed in 1979.
We start at Maud (NGR.926.478), which was the junction where the Fraserburgh and Peterhead lines parted company, and will walk southwards via Auchnagatt and Arnage to Ellon. The total walking distance is 12 miles but a shorter walk of 7 1/2 miles is possible by getting dropped at Auchnagatt. (NGR.932.418)
From Maud the track first climbs a gentle incline up the valley of the South Ugie Water before levelling off and passing the woods of Nethermuir. It then enters a long straight section leading eventually to the site of the station at Auchnagatt where the A.948 New Deer/ Ellon road takes a sharp double bend to cross a bridge over the track.
After Auchnagatt the valley of the Ebrie Burn is followed and the track then enters a series of cuttings and embankments which lead to the Mill of Towie and then we approach the woods around Arnage Castle. These are passed on the left hand side before arriving at the site of Arnage Station. The track then diverges from the burn and climbs a bit to enter a long cutting past Backhill from where it is downhill past Auchterellon to the site of Ellon Station on the west side of the town.
The bus will be parked at the Station Hotel where a bar supper has been arranged