DAY 18
MONDAY 16TH JUNE, 2008
ABERDEEN TO NEWBURGH – 15.6 MILES, 5.5 HOURS
MORRIS AND PHIL
TOTAL DISTANCE WALKED SO FAR 280.6 MILES
One day walks are now impractical due to travelling distances so day 18 and 19 walks were planned for this trip. Again we made use of the East Coast main line travelling on the 07.08 train from Edinburgh arriving in Aberdeen at 09.30. On setting off from the station we made our way through the dockland area to the sea front at the groynes. It was a lovely sunny morning as we walked along the sea front past the Leisure Centre and King’s Links golf course. The blocks of high rise flats which dominate the inland landscape would be visible (when looking back south) for most of today’s walk. On reaching the point where the river Don runs out to sea we were forced to follow the south bank inland to cross at the Bridge of Don and return down the north bank to the sea. Looking north and south it was lovely beaches as far as the eye could see. Our route for the rest of the day was for most of the time at the sea edge with some detours onto the dunes to view the Royal Aberdeen and Murcar Links golf courses as well as the groups of fabulous dunes. One hazard when walking this beach is that the army have a shooting range just north of Blackdog Rock on the area of Blackdog and Millden Links and if red flags are flying on the dunes it indicates it is in use. Unhelpfully the Army do not offer any advice on a suitable detour and appear uninterested in the pursuits of walkers or others using the beach. However if this problem arises it may be necessary to detour inland at Blackdog to the A90 returning to the beach via Hatton. If food or other refreshments are needed a detour can be made into Balmedie which lies 1 mile inland. Just north of Foveran Links the river Ythan runs out to the sea and here we followed the south bank of the river inland (past a pod of seals basking in the sun on a sandbank) to Newburgh our destination for today. After a refreshing pint at the Udny Arms hotel we caught a local bus to Cruden Bay to our overnight accommodation at the St Olafs hotel.
Summary;. More or less a full day on the beach with underfoot conditions varying from firm sand near the sea edge to soft, moving sands near and on the dunes. A tiring day on the legs.
Highs; The 10 miles of magnificent beach from Bridge of Don to Newburgh and the dunes at Menie and Foveran.
Lows; None really although walking on the beach past the Army shooting range could be a problem. Accommodation in Newburgh is very limited.
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
-
- Morris and Phil ready to set off from Aberdeen station.
-
- Morris at the beach at the Groynes with Girdle Ness lighthouse on the point behind.
-
- Looking north along the sea front.
-
- Bridge of Don where we crossed the river.
-
- River Don running out to the sea.
-
- Another bit of WW2 sea defences on Balgownie Links.
-
- The view north along Balgownie Links.
-
- Phil on the dunes near Blackdog Rock.
-
- Phil and Morris near Blackdog Links.
-
- The dunes at Menie Links.
-
- A well walked bit of beach.
-
- The dunes at Foveran Links.
-
- Seals on the dunes at Newburgh Bar.
-
- Heading alongside the river Ythan to Newburgh.
-
- Our accomodation for the night at St Olafs hotel in Cruden Bay.
ROUTE MAP – CLICK TO ENLARGE
DAY 18 ROUTE MAP