Maud to Ellon – Formartine & Buchan Way

O.S. Map 30 (Fraserburgh).

N.B. bus departs from Aberdeen at 9.00am please note that clocks change to BST – i.e. forward one hour.

This walk is a through walk, so members who require a different or shorter walk, please liaise with the committee member in charge of the bus today, prior to you leaving the bus. The Formartine and Buchan Way runs along the former route of the railway that extended
from Dyce, on the outskirts of Aberdeen, north to Maud, where it split with the branches heading to both Peterhead and Fraserburgh. The line was a victim of the 1960’s Beecham cuts, though it continued to carry freight to Peterhead until 1970 and to Fraserburgh until 1979. The Buchan Countryside Group began the work of reopening the route as a cycleway and footpath in 1987. The walk commences at Maud (NGR 926 479), at the junction where the line branches towards Peterhead and Fraserburgh. Follow the line approximately 7 km (4.5miles) towards Auchnagatt. From this village, soon pass the Mill of Elrick and the Ebrus Burn to continue along the rail line. Your route eventually emerges onto a minor road where the original rail bridge is missing. Continue on this rail track to pass under a couple of bridges before the way emerges onto another minor road by South Lodge. The line passes under another bridge at Ward Head and then onwards to Ellon where our bus will be parked NGR 949 308.
Walking distance approx. 12 miles.

Bus departs at 5.00pm.

In the event of an emergency arising, the person in charge of the outing should be notified first, if possible, before the police are contacted Telephone number for Grampian Police is 999.

Committee member in charge is Alastair Condie