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The Bullers o' Buchan:
A couple of miles north of the coast of Cruden Bay lies the
Bullers o' Buchan, a marine erosion with some of the most impressive
cliff-side views in Britain. The name is probably derived from
'boilers', referring to the seething waters that impact against
the bottom of these majestic cliffs. The sea through time has
carved caves and inlets into the cliffs, making them spectacular
to walk round.
Following the coastal path North to Boddam takes you over
Longhaven Cliffs. The pinky-red granite of Longhaven Cliffs rise
up to 60m, sheer from the sea. Constant pounding from the waves
of the North Sea has formed this heavily-faulted granite into
inlets, stacks, caves and arches. In summer, visitors are
greeted by the tremendous noise and smell of the large seabird
colonies on the cliffs. Many thousands of birds breed along this
stretch of coastline. At Longhaven, kittiwakes and guillemots
are the most numerous. Razorbills, shags, puffins and herring
gulls also nest here, as do fulmars, which have the habit of
spitting foul-smelling oil at intruders, if provoked! Gannets
from nearby Troup Head can be seen diving out at sea.
In the hostile condition of the cliff top an unusual form of
coastal heath has developed, with plants such as bell heather,
crowberry, devil’s-bit scabious and grass-of-Parnassus. Grey
seals frequent the sheltered inlets. Porpoise, dolphin and minke
whale are occasionally seen. The breeding sea-bird colonies are
a spectacular site. Evidence of the old quarry workings can be
seen on the reserve. Look out for ruined dynamite storage sheds.
The path South of the Bullers to Slains Castle and Cruden Bay
are equally spectacular, passing Dunby an island with a
fantastic arch, the Bows, the Dunnons and Stirling Crags before
arriving at Port Errol in Cruden Bay
Below: The Bow of Pitwartlachie:

This is what the Sunday Times had to say on 10th May 2004
in the article "Top 10 Breaks in Scotland"
"BEST COASTAL WALK "
Bullers of Buchan, Aberdeenshire
Why? Fantastic birds, awesome cliffs, and a chasm described
by Boswell as a “monstrous cauldron”. From the sandy beach at
Cruden Bay, head north along the coastal path, passing the huge
pink-granite ruin of Slains Castle, the inspiration behind Bram
Stoker’s Dracula. From here, it’s another two and a half miles
along the towering clifftop path to the Bullers itself, a
giddying chasm dropping about 200ft to the sea below. Creep
around the rim, remembering to remove your heart from your mouth
for the final hour or so, past stacks, caves, inlets and arches,
along the cliffs to Longhaven Cliffs Nature Reserve.’

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