SCO-226-Longhaven Cliffs-Bullers of Buchan Trail

Waypoints

(1) Start walk at Wildlife Trust car-park

https://w3w.co/influence.bared.scripted NK1123039851

Start the walk from the Longhaven Cliffs Nature Reserve car-park just off the A90 on the northern outskirts of Longhaven. Walk up the rough road, away from the A90 main road. In about 280 m at a junction, follow the road as it bends right.

(2) Go left off road onto path at small car-park

In 540 m from the start, as you approach a gate ahead of you, go left off the road to walk through a small car-parking area to join a path where there is an information board for the Longhaven Cliffs Nature Reserve. (540 m)

(3) Go left at paths y-junction

In 180 m, at a paths y-junction take the option going left in a northerly direction along the clifftops. Note that you will return to this point after turning at Murdoch Head (Waypoint 4) in order to take the southerly path for the Bullers of Buchan. (720 m)

(4) North turning point at Murdoch Head

In 960 m, just after passing a small flooded quarry on your right and taking in the view of a substantial sea stack and the coastline going north to Boddam Lighthouse, turn and re-trace your steps along the coastal path to Waypoint 3. At Waypoint 3 take the coastal path going south, passing the large flooded Blackhills quarry on your right side. Keep going along the coastal path until you reach the southern end of the Bullers of Buchan "pot", just before the hamlet of the same name. (1.68 km)

(5) South turning point at Bullers of Buchan

In 2.98 km you will have reached the (now faded) information board for the impressive Bullers of Buchan* rock feature. When you are ready, start re-tracing your steps along the coastal path in a northerly direction for just over one kilometre, just before you reach the gate giving access to the nature Reserve. (4.66 km)

* Note: The name Bullers of Buchan refers both to a collapsed sea cave and to the adjacent village, situated about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Peterhead in Buchan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The collapsed sea cave forms an almost circular chasm (the "pot")[1] some 30 metres (98 ft) deep, where the sea rushes in through a natural archway. The small hamlet of cottages here is also known by the same name, and was historically a fishing village launching small boats from the bay below (the slipway may still be seen at low tide). iffs The cliffs at the Bullers provide a nesting site in spring for colonies of seabirds, including kittiwakes, puffins, fulmars, shags, razorbills and guillemots along with herring gulls and great black-backed gulls. Eider ducks may also be seen here, and gannets are frequently seen passing en route to their colonies north at Troup Head and south at the Bass Rock. Grey seals may be seen in the bay, and dolphins are often seen passing by offshore.

(6) left through gate onto Blackhills Walkways path

In 1.16 km from the Bullers of Buchan, at an entrance gate to the Nature Reserve, go through the pedestrian gate on you left then immediately turn right to follow the recently constructed Blackhills Pathway, very soon passing a picnic bench and a small pond. Keep going on this pathway, ignoring any options to left or right until it takes you back to your start-point at the Nature Reserve car-park on the A90. (5.82 km)

(7) Finish walk back at car-park

In 1.36 km, walking on the Blackhills Pathway, with open farmland on either side, you will have returned to your start-point at the Nature Reserve car-park. (7.18 km)