Walk across the fabulous golden sand of Fraserburgh Bay and then follow the Philorth Water, a rare habitat for many seabirds. Cross the dunes before returning along the beach with good views of Fraserburgh and Kinnaird Head lighthouse.
Bog Factor
Beach and dunes.
Fraserburgh Esplanade car park.
Fraserburgh is served by regular buses.
NJ999661
The walk starts from the Esplanade car park which is well signed from the A98 in Fraserburgh. It is just south of the harbour and north of the large Tesco store. There are toilets and a seasonal cafe at the car park. From the parking walk south along the promenade - with the sea on your left - passing the toilets and cafe building and continuing along the front until you have crossed a small burn which flows out over the sand. Go down the steps on the far side and continue along the sand towards the large dune system which dominates the horizon.
Continue following the beach. At the highest of tides it is possible to walk along the dunes although the going is much harder than on the wet sand. Note the concete pill-box from World War 2 - Fraserburgh was very heavily bombed as the last landfall for Luftwaffe returning to their base at Trondheim, its munitions and food supplies factories a conveninent target to drop any remaining munitions. The bombardment earned the town the nickname 'Little London'.
The point and harbour at Cairnbulg are in view in the far distance, with the wreck of a fishing vessel just a short way off the coast. Cairnbulg is the other side of the River Philorth which is unseen until reached. Continue along the beach for 3.25km until the river is reached and then head inland next to the water. There is a clear path next to the river - or at very high water take the dune path above it. The river is a good place to spot waders such as Sanderling, Dunlin, Herons and Oystercatchers.
Eventually as the river narrows and begins to turn more directly inland the path forks. Keep right here to soon reach a boardwalk (with the Waters of Philorth Nature Resrve car park visible to the left). Turn right to follow the boardwalk up through the dunes, eventually reaching a viewpoint over the beach. Make a very steep descent back down the sand to the beach (the wooden steps are long gone). Once back on the beach turn left to return along the sands to Fraserburgh.
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