DAY 14
WEDNESDAY 9TH APRIL, 2008
ARBROATH TO MONTROSE – 19 MILES, 7 HOURS
MORRIS AND BILL
TOTAL DISTANCE WALKED SO FAR 215.6 MILES
With a long walk ahead we made an early start travelling by train from Edinburgh to Arbroath. On arrival it was raining heavy enough to merit waterproofs. We made our way from the station to the harbour and walked along the sea front to the car park where we found the clearly marked Seaton cliffs path. We followed the path past Carlingheugh and CastleseaBays to Auchmithie. On route we met and stopped for a chat with two locals George and Lily (George plays the role of Sir Alex Seton in the annual town pageant) who identified some of the coastal landmarks to us. On the outskirts of Auchmithie there is a row of cottages from where the road into the village heads inland. We chose to walk round the edge of the field behind the cottages passing the Millennium Cairn and into the village. We were unable continue on the clifftops and had to leave the village on the minor road towards Seafield and then Rumness from where we crossed a field back to the clifftops. Although there was at times some evidence of a path we found ourselves for long stretches walking at the edge of muddy, freshly ploughed fields. Continuing along the clifftops we walked past the hamlet of Ethie Haven and onto the spectacular sands at LunanBay where we stopped for a much needed cup of tea. On resuming along the sands our progress was briefly stopped where the Lunan Water enters the sea. Boots and socks off we paddled through the calf deep, ice cold water and carried on. At the end of the beach we could see no obvious way back to the Clifftops. Eventually we made our way under the railway bridge and across a field back as close as we could to the sea. Again we walked at the edge of fields to Boddin Point, past the cemetery at Todd’s Hole to Usan. No obvious route or path was evident from Usan so we walked on the minor access road past Usan House to Mains of Usan and round the point past the lighthouse at Scurdie Ness. We walked via the lighthouse access road and A92 into Montrose where after a well deserved refreshment we caught a train back to Edinburgh.
Summary;. Slightly undulating with varying, sometimes difficult underfoot conditions. Map required.
Highs; Some spectacular cliff top views and LunanBay.
Lows; None, just have to accept our Scottish weather.
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
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- Arbroath harbour.
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- Looking back at Arbroath from the Seaton cliff top path.
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- The Needles E’e , Seaton Cliffs
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- The Blow Hole ,Seaton Cliffs.
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- The Dei’ls Heid, Seaton Cliffs.
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- George and Lily who we met and stopped for a blether.
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- Morris with Carlingheugh Bay behind.
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- Looking across Castlesea Bay to Ludd Fort.
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- The Milenium cairn at Auchmithie.
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- Auchmithie harbour.
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- Looking back at Auchmithie from near the Sled.
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- Looking back at our path along the cliff tops from near Ethie Haven.
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- Looking down on the hamlet of Ethie Haven.
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- Morris on the fantastic sands at Lunan Bay.
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- Red Castle at Lunan Bay.
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- The Lunan Water running out to the sea. ( proved to be a very cold paddle).
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- Looking back over Lunan Bay from the field at the cliff tops.
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- Bill on the cliff top path near Black Jack.
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- Looking ahead to Boddin Point from Black Jack.
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- Todd’s Hole near Usan.
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- The hamlet of Usan.
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- Scurdie Ness lighthouse.
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- The service road from Scurdie Ness into Montrose.
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- A ship sailing from Montose docks.
ROUTE MAP – CLICK TO ENLARGE
DAY 14 ROUTE MAP