Ythan Estuary and Forvie Sands, near Newburgh

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This fine circular heads out along the bird-rich Ythan Estuary and through the dunes of the Forvie National Nature Reserve. It has a long beach section and also visits the ruins of Forvie Church - all that remains of a village destroyed by the sands. Dogs must be kept on leads and ensure you do not get too close or disturb any seals or ground-nesting birds - obey any signs.

Terrain

Waymarked dune paths and sandy beach.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

Parking layby just north of A975 bridge over the Ythan. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

There is a marked parking area on the east side of the A975 just north of the bridge over the River Ythan. This route follows the circuit and is waymarked in blue. Begin by following the track south through the plantation and continue straight ahead as it emerges from the trees, ignoring the track on the left. It now runs close by the estuary of the River Ythan. The tidal reaches of the river extend seven kilometres inland and make a fine habitat for shelducks and terns; they are designated as an SSSI.

Stage 2

There are good views across the river to Newburgh as the route continues beside the estuary. Eventually it passes through a gate in a fence - there is a bench here - before a marker post indicates the point at which the route climbs up through a dip onto the top of the dunes and then turns left inland. Do not continue along the beach as between April-August the area is restricted due to seals and nesting terns. If you want to see the seals the best place to view them is on the opposite side of the river - turn left at Newburgh Inn and use the parking on Beach Road and walk the short distance to a spot opposite where the seals haul out.

Stage 3

The dunes are an important habitat, part of the Forvie Sands National Nature Reserve. Follow the marked route which eventually slopes down onto the huge sandy beach. Turn left and continue across the sands. After a little over kilometre a small burn runs out onto the beach. Just across this a marker post indicates where the route leaves the sand and cuts back inland, passing a derelict building which was a base for salmon netting as recently as the 1980s.

Stage 4

A junction is then reached with an information post (number '7'). Although the main route continues ahead, it is worth detouring to the right here around the Forvie Village Trail. This series of information posts tells the story of Forvie, a village obliterated by the sands in the 1400s. A local legend tells of three sisters who were driven to sea in a leaky boat to deny them their inheritance. The sisters reached land and laid a curse on the village, whereupon a storm raged for 9 days until it was buried under the sands. Follow the trail to the ruin of the old church. From here a red waymarked route to the right leads eventually across the Forvie Sands to Collieston; to complete our route turn left instead, following the path over a footbridge until it rejoins the main route - here turn right.

Stage 5

The track now continues inland through the dunes. Bear left at a junction (green waymarker) and continue until the outward route is rejoined by the plantation. Turning right here leads back to the start.

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Ythan Estuary and Forvie Sands, near Newburgh

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Terrain

Public Transport

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