Formartine and Buchan Way
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
- Dyce railway station: 57°12’20"N, 2°11’32"W
- Alternatives:
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.
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.
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 A 15-mile long section north to Fraserburgh railway station opened on 24 April 1865.[3] Passenger services were withdrawn by British Railways in 1965 as part of the 'Beeching Axe'.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
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Formartine and Buchan Way) |
- Official Website from Aberdeenshire Council
- Formartine and Buchan Way guide and mapping on Walkhighlands
- Information about the former railway
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Formatine and Buchan Way: Scotland's Great Trails
- ↑ Scotland's Great Trails
- ↑ Awdry, Christopher: Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies (1990, Patrick Stephens Ltd) ISBN 1-8526-0049-7}}, (1990). p.132
- ↑ and Buchan Way: WalkHighlands