Formartine and Buchan Way

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Formatine and Buchan Way at Logierieve

The Formartine and Buchan Way is a long-distance footpath in Aberdeenshire, extending from Dyce (now a northern suburb of Aberdeen) northwards to Peterhead and Fraserburgh in the Buchan and Formartine districts of Aberdeenshire.

The route follows the track of a former railway line, the Formartine and Buchan Railway, and is open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders.[1] The railway closed in 1979 (Fraserburgh) and 1970 (Maud-Peterhead). The walkway opened in the early 1990s. It has been listed as one of 'Scotland's Great Trails'.[2]

Trailheads

Route

Places of interest along the way include Drinnes Wood Observatory, Strichen Stone Circle, Aden Country Park, Deer Abbey and The White Horse at Strichen.

Udny Station looking along the footpath.

The total path is around 53 miles long if both spurs are walked and can be accessed relatively easily by public transport or car.[1] The route is marked on Ordnance Survey maps.

The path is well signposted and is easy to follow. The track is relatively flat and undulates only when roads have to be crossed. It is well maintained, and few parts are overgrown. However, the Maud to Strichen section has a detour because of overgrown shrubbery, marshy conditions and numerous problems such as gates and fences blocking access.

Much of the route is not suitable for those on adapted cycles, due to frequent access barriers, except where the route is shared by National Cycle Network Route 1, between Auchnagatt and Maud.

Access barrier at Auchnagatt.

Sections

Start point End point Length
Dyce Udny Station 8 miles
Udny Station Ellon 5 miles
Ellon Auchnagatt 7½ miles
Auchnagatt Maud 4½ miles
Maud Strichen 5½ miles
Strichen Fraserburgh 11 miles
Dyce Fraserburgh 40 miles (Total excluding Peterhead branch)
Maud Longside 7 miles
Longside Peterhead 6½ miles
Maud Fraserburgh 13 miles (Total for Peterhead branch)
Complete route 53 miles

History of the route

The 29-mile long railway from Dyce to Mintlaw railway station opened on 18 July 1861, with the 13-mile section from Maud to Peterhead railway station opening the following year. A 15-mile long section north to Fraserburgh railway station opened on 24 April 1865.[3] Passenger services were withdrawn by British Railways in 1965 as part of the 'Beeching Axe'. Freight trains continued to operate to Peterhead until 1970 and Fraserburgh until 1979. This was in spite of the fact a considerable amount of freight traffic was being generated by the off-shore oil and gas industry.

Conversion of the line to a footpath and cycleway started in 1987, and was led by the Buchan Countryside Group.[4]

See also

Outside links

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References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Formatine and Buchan Way: Scotland's Great Trails
  2. Scotland's Great Trails
  3. Awdry, Christopher: Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies (1990, Patrick Stephens Ltd) ISBN 1-8526-0049-7}}, (1990). p.132
  4. and Buchan Way: WalkHighlands
Long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom

Cleveland WayCotswold WayGlyndŵr's WayGreat Glen WayHadrian's Wall PathIcknield WayNorth Downs WayNorfolk Coast PathOffa's Dyke PathPeddars WayPembrokeshire Coast PathPennine BridlewayPennine WayThe RidgewayScottish National TrailSouth Downs WaySouthern Upland WaySouth West Coast PathSpeyside WayThames PathUlster WayWest Highland WayYorkshire Wolds Way