Top 5: Beaches In Aberdeenshire
As we ease ourselves into September, wondering where the rest of the year has gone, we brace ourselves for the unpredictable weather Scotland usually delivers at this time of year.
Whether we are fortunate enough to have a few final days of sun before we dig out the thermals, or if we’re very much settling into Autumn, there are still plenty of beautiful spots to entice us into the great outdoors.
For our first blog post, we thought we’d have a look at our favourite beaches in the area.
So here are our top 5…
New Aberdour Beach
New Aberdour Beach is a 20 minute drive from us here at Saplinbrae. It is in an unspoilt location, and is a lovely beach for a walk or a picnic. The beach itself is a mix of sand and shingle and for the more adventurous of us has limestone caves to explore at low tide. New Aberdour Beach is also one of the few in the area to offer toilet facilities. The surrounding cliffs provide shelter from any sudden changes in the weather, and there is also a lovely inland walk over to Pennan for those looking for a day out rather than a short walk. It is a 14km round trip taking roughly 3 hours.
Fraserburgh Beach
For those looking for something a little more adventurous, Fraserburgh beach ticks all the boxes. As a surfing hotspot, the beach is given a “fairly consistent” rating when it comes to decent surfing conditions. Winter and Spring are generally the best seasons to visit for a frolick in the waves, however in the summer, it’s a great spot for a family picnic or testing your creativity building sandcastles. The beach cafe also offers a welcome opportunity to boost the blood sugar levels after a day in the surf.
Cullykhan Bay
Cullykhan Bay is the epitome of a hidden gem. It is a glorious sandy bay nestled amongst high cliffs. It is the next door neighbour of Pennan, boasting a sandy beach and plenty of rockpools to guddle in. At low tide for the daredevils out there, it is possible to walk through the high caves and pop out at the huge deep pools which you often find wetsuit clad youngsters throwing themselves into from the surrounding
high rocks. The cliffs provide shelter from inclement weather and the unspoilt scenery provides a fantastic backdrop to have a picnic all year round. Trust us, we’ve picnicked there in all four seasons.
Collieston
Collieston is another small fishing village established in the 16th century. However in contrast to Pennan, it has a sandy beach which is ideal for building sand castles.
The harbour wall provides shelter from the open sea, so makes it an ideal location for paddling and swimming. There are a couple of short local walks round the foot of the cliffs to rockpools to the south and a viewpoint to the north. The beachfront Smuggler’s Cone shop sells light snacks, coffees and Ice creams to keep you going throughout the day.
Forvie Sands
Forvie Sands is so much more than a beach. The towering sand dunes at the mouth of the Ythan provide a safe haven for a colony of breeding eider ducks as well as seals who traditionally haul-out around the estuary. The visitor centre is open from April to August and houses information on the wildlife found in the area as well as video presentations.
With all of these beaches no further than a 30 minute drive from us here at Saplinbrae, we are spoilt for choice for places to inhale salty sea air and appreciate some of the stunning untouched scenery the North East has to offer. It is also worth remembering we offer a cracking afternoon tea if you’re a bit wabbit after a day exploring caves and skimming stones.
