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last day of the 48 miles of the Moray coast trail, from Buckie via the villages of Findochty and Portknockie and the ubiquitous golf course, to view the impressive Bow fiddle rock and watch Gannets dive from the Cullen beach. only 7 and half miles.
After an excellent night and a good breakfast at the Rosemount hotel in Buckie we headed out for our last day the aim was Cullen and then a bus to Elgin to stay the night before catching the train(s) back to Yorkshire.
Dropped down to the harbour and wound through the industrial area and the terraced houses squeezed between the cliffs and the shore. following the coast road out of Buckie either on the pavement or on a path through grass along the shore to reach an old hotel where the path heads out round rocks and cliffs following the edge of fields and a gold course before descending steeply to enter the fishing village of Findochty which has a lovely harbour.
Just as i started to take this photo a Dolphin leaped about 300yds out, i couldnt beloive id seen it, we'd seen seals watching us as we walked along yesterday but that was the first and only dolphin i'd seenlooking back at Buckie well mown grass as we leave the road and head round the cliffsprobably the most difficult part of the path all week crossing these rocksskirting the linksDescend the steps to take the lower path into Findochty Findochty comes into viewbut first we had to cross this chasm across a tidal inlet cutting into the cliffbefore reaching the lovely harbour and round the other side of findochoty village was another inlet/ harbour that used to be a boatbuilders now landscapedthe mean back streets of Findochtyout of Findochty the path climbs the cliffwhich gives some excellent views of the fishing boats heading out into the North seaPortknockie comes into viewentering PortknockiePortknockie harboureven has a Lidothe Bow fiddle rock, impressivethe next headland is Aberdeenshire, can we just keep walkingCullen and the end of the path comes into the viewonto the final beachWe made it, In conclusion
48 miles in 4 days,
a great path even the first 5 miles on roads to reach the coast at Findhorn as Forres is a great town to start.
the beaches either side of Lossiemouth are the highlight, great to walk miles along sand and know that you dont have to turn around and walk back
we saw a dolphin, lots of seals and the great view of gannets and terns diving into the sea.
its a great trail and an easy walk over 4 days. the B and Bs that we booked were excellent and the breakfasts well needed.
enjoyed it and were disappointed that it ended
come and walk it.
Iain and Cath