DAY 17
TUESDAY 29TH APRIL, 2008
STONEHAVEN TO ABERDEEN – 20.6 MILES, 8 HOURS
MORRIS AND BILL
TOTAL DISTANCE WALKED SO FAR 265 MILES
Again we made use of the East Coast Main line travelling by train from Edinburgh to Stonehaven. It was a lovely sunny morning when we set of from the station and made our way along the seafront, past the caravan site to Cowie where we found a path to the top of the cliffs. A little further on we walked round the edge of the picturesque Stonehaven Golf club where we took time to enjoy a chat with a foursome of lady members. From here we had to find our own way walking between the railway line and clifftops to Blackhills, pausing briefly at picturesque Doonie Point before walking on past Muchalls, Newtonhill and Downies to Old Portlethen village where we stopped at the local pub for a most enjoyable cold beer and lunch. We walked out of the village on the minor road for a short distance before picking up a path on the right which took us back towards the sea. Staying on this path we walked through an industrial unit near Arnott Boo just below Findon which appears to manufacture rescue vessels for the oil rigs. Their bright orange shells were visible from a great distance. Climbing up the hillside towards Findon we then walked across the rather muddy Findon moor to our first obstacle of the day. A fence blocking the path bore a notice indicating a shooting range and gunfire could be heard although no warning flags were visible. We skirted round the inland side of the range and walked into our second obstacle a very large and busy quarry near Blowup Nose. Again we successfully bypassed it on the inland side. From here we walked between railway line and sea to Cove Bay where we picked up an excellent constructed coastal path all the way to Nigg Bay and Aberdeen. The walk into Aberdeen from Nigg Bay round Girdle Ness, past the golf course and lighthouse into the Port is dramatic and in contrast to the villages and hamlets of earlier in the day.
Summary;. Slightly undulating at parts with good underfoot conditions (except muddy Findon Moor). Map required.
Highs; Lots of lovely little villages and hamlets.
Lows; Finding a fence across what has clearly been a coastal path at the shooting range.
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
-
- Looking north along the sea front at Stonehaven.
-
- Looking back to Stonehaven from near Cowie.
-
- Looking back from the start of the cliff top path with Dunnottar Castle visible on the point
-
- The path up to the cliff tops just passed Cowie.
-
- Looking across Craigeven Bay towards Garron Point and the golf course.
-
- Stonehaven golf course forth tee towards Garron Point.
-
- A group of ladies enjoying a round on Stonehaven golf course.
-
- Looking north across Perthumie Bay from the golf course.
-
- Morris admiring the lovely greens on Stonehaven golf course.
-
- Bill almost lost in the mist near Long Meg.
-
- View north from Doonie Point
-
- Bill near Grim Brigs.
-
- Looking north across Grim Brigs.
-
- Morris with Doonie Point behind.
-
- Looking north from the point at Grim Brigs
-
- First World War monument at Muchalls.
-
- Looking ahead across the bay at Newtonhills to our route along the cliff tops.
-
- Enjoying a refreshing pint at the pub in Portleithen.
-
- Leaving Old Portlethen.
-
- The Plant at Findon where offshore survival craft are inspected.
-
- Looking back south from near Findon to Portleithen in the distance.
-
- Looking back over the boggy Findon Moor.
-
- The huge quarry near Blowup Nose.
-
- Finding our way near Hare Ness.
-
- On the coastal path looking back to Cove Bay.
-
- Bill on the excellent path that runs all the way from Cove to Aberdeen.
-
- Morris and Bill on the path with Girdle Ness lighthouse in the background.
-
- Looking north across Nigg Bay.
-
- Morris at Greg Ness with Girdle Ness in the background.
-
- Heading round the point to Girdle Ness lighthouse.
-
- Looking inland from Girdle Ness to Aberdeen City.
-
- Looking north from Girdle Ness to the sand at the groynes where we start our next walk.
-
- A large ship leaving the busy Aberdeen port.
ROUTE MAP – CLICK TO ENLARGE
DAY 17 ROUTE MAP