This lovely stretch of coastline joins the fascinating Portsoy, with its heritage harbour and buildings to the picturesque village and fabulous beach at Sandend. The return is on a minor road through farmland with sea views.
Clear coastal path, farm track and minor road.
Regular bus service (305) to Portsoy - can be used to return to Sandend if required.
Old Harbour, Portsoy.
This walk starts from the impressive old harbour in Portsoy. There is limited parking here and also a larger parking area on the east side of Portsoy, near the caravan park from where you can walk on the road past the new harbour to get to the start. The old harbour was built in 1692 all from stones set vertically. Portsoy exported locally-quarried marble and and linen and exported coal as well as having a thriving fishing industry. The new harbour was built in 1825 to meet the demands of the herring trade, although fishing here has declined steadily since the 1900's. To start the walk climb up High Street just to the right of the imposing white house with the three windows, 10 Shorehead. Just a short way up, lookout for a pathway to the right signed Footpath to West Braes.
Follow this pathway which climbs to give good views over the harbour and follow it round as it narrows to carry on between a wall and the fenced cliff. After it turns to the right (ignore the path to the left) it passes under houses on the left and then reaches a junction with a larger track and a dog bin. Continue straight ahead and keep left on a path which passes above the old saltwater swimming pool on the right.
Turn left up the road to pass a car park and then turn right along a track heading gently uphill towards a house. Once past the house, look out for a grassy track to the right, there is an arrow marker post opposite. Follow the track alongside a fence heading towards the coast. At the coast an old wartime building is passed; keep to the left fork as you pass this to keep above the cliffs. Just off to the right of the path before the small headland is a large rock with an impressive arch in it.
Where the path forks you can head right for a detour to the headland where there are often seabirds nesting or fishing; alternatively simply stay on the main path to bypass the headland. The path now crosses springy turf with heather on either side. Pass a marker post and turn the corner to head towards the bay at Sandend. Eventually a grassy track is reached - the route to the left is the return route, but for now turn right to pass a bay with a ruined house below.
Go through a kissing gate and down wooden steps to the beach, passing a pill box here. During World War II this coastline was seen as vulnerable to invasion from German-occupied Norway and the coastline is littered with remnants of fortifications from that time. Cross the beach to Sandend; there's a bridge over the burn just before you reach it, to the left. A path leads between the campsite and shore to reach the public toilets. Turn right to visit the lower end of Sandend, a very attractive little place with a harbour at the end of the road and the large sandy beach popular with surfers. It is possible to extend the walk from here by following the Sandend - Findlater Castle route.
To return to Portsoy cross back over the beach and climb up the path and through the kissing gate until the junction with the grassy track is reached. Go straight ahead here up the grassy track to pass Redhythe Farm on the left.
The track becomes a minor road; keep ahead, ignoring any driveways leading off. There are good views down over Portsoy as the road heads downhill. Pass the hospital on the left and at the road junction turn left to follow the residential street to the main square in Portsoy, from here turn left to take Shore Street down to the old harbour.
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