Forvie Sands, Collieston

This excellent walk explores part of the Forvie Sands National Nature Reserve, a vast area of dunes and coastal heathland. Along the way there is some fine coastal scenery, a beautiful sandy bay and the site of a village destroyed by the drifting sands.

Terrain

Waymarked paths through dunes and along coast; alternative return route can be very wet in places.

Public Transport

Bus to Collieston, a short walk from start.

Start

Forvie Sands Centre. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 8.5km / 5.25 miles
Time: 2 - 3 hours
Ascent: 118m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NK034289

Maps / GPS

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk begins from the car park at the Stevenson Forvie Centre which is signed from the Collieston road. The centre is worth a visit; it provides information about the reserve, whilst outside a board shows a map of the waymarked routes. The route described here heads along the coastline to visit the ruined church of the now lost Forvie village; it then returns to follow the loop of the Heath route on the return. A wooden sign points the way 'To the Reserve', passing a picnic area and then going through a pedestrian gate. Turn left here, following the surfaced path to reach the Sand Loch.

Stage 2

The route passes to the right of Sand Loch, keeping left at a picnic table and climbing up onto the coastal dunes overlooking the sea. Turn right here and continue along the coastal path; there are excellent views of the waves crashing against the rocky shore below. At a marker post ignore the Heath route which goes off to the right - this option is taken on the way back. The route crosses a wooden footbridge and round the back of a rocky inlet or geo.

Stage 3

Eventually two big rocks provide the perfect place for a stop to admire beautiful Hackley Bay, a perfect sandy cove. Follow the path as it continues to pass round the back of the bay without descending; if you wish to visit the sands the best place to descend is at the far end where there is a marked path down.

Stage 4

The route then continues atop the dunes, giving a fine view along a vast beach extending southwards. The path now descends almost to sea level and reaches a grassy track - turn right inland along this. Look out for an information post at the start of a path heading off right - take this path, following it over a footbridge.

Stage 5

The path soon reaches a stone ruin. These are the remains of Forvie Church and date back to the twelth century, replacing an even earlier structure. The settlement was finally destroyed by the advancing sands, probably 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. Just beyond the church a marker post for 'Hackley Bay' indicates a path that cuts back across the dunes to rejoin the outward route.

Stage 6

Back on the coast path, turn left to retrace your steps back along the route, around the back of Hackley Bay and the geo before reaching a marker post where the Heath Route is reached once more. Here turn left inland along the track. The route passes to the left of a lochan; this section can be very wet underfoot so if you want to keep your feet dry you could continue back the same way.

Stage 7

Keep following the green markers as the eventually swings right and then forks - take the left fork (marker). This leads back through the massive dune systems. The first dunes of the reserve were by the Ythan 2000 years ago and slowly extended northwards, reaching Collieston around 1700. The path leads eventually back to the Forvie Sands centre.

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