Buchan has some magnificent beaches. At Cruden Bay a two-mile
arc of golden sands can be reached by foot across the Ladies
Bridge from Port Errol
At Peterhead there is a small beach in the bay at the Lido;
close to the Marina, Maritime Heritage Centre and caravan park.
Peterhead’s other beach can be reached by crossing the river
Ugie on the George Birnie footbridge bridge at the Golf Road car
park. This is known locally as "going ower the watter" via "Birnie
Brig".
Beyond the rocks of Craigewan just north of Peterhead it is the
start of an eleven-mile stretch of golden sands and magnificent
dune systems that go all the way to St Combs. There are access
points to the sands off the A90 north from Peterhead at
Scotstown (St Fergus), Rattray and St Combs.
There is a wealth of wildlife to be found. Grey Seals are around
nearly all the time usually close to the shore and sometimes
hauled out onto the beach, Minkie whales and dolphins have been
seen further of shore. There is a constant movement of sea birds
from gannets to skuas and shearwaters, eider duck to divers.
There is a wide variety of plant life in the dunes and who knows
what will turn up in the rock pools and on the high water line?
Whether you want to walk, sit, picnic, surf or watch the waves
crashing to shore - you will find more than enough golden sanded
beaches to keep you happy:
Rattray dunes
Rattray beach - crashing waves
Rattray beach - surf
Rattray - behind the dunes
Rattray dunes
Rattray beach
St. Fergus Beach - wartime 'pill-box'
St. Fergus beach
Peterhead beach, maritime heritage centre (left) and marina
(right)
