St Combs to Rattray Head

Summary

Extending south from St Combs is a vast system of dunes and a huge sandy beach, stretching all the way to Peterhead. The southern stretch is backed by a major gas terminal, but as far as Rattray Head the hinterland is the Strathbeg Nature Reserve; it makes a great one-way walk with a real feeling of remoteness.

Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Most of the distance is across sandy beach, with a rough detour inland across dunes and beside a lagoon which can be wet.

Getting there

Start

Community Hall, St Combs.

Public Transport

St Combs has a bus service, but there is none to or from the end of the walk at Rattray Head.

Start Grid Ref

NK056629

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 9.5km / 6 miles
Time: 3 - 4 hours
Ascent: 46m (Profile)

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Walk Description

User reports (1)

Stage 1

The village of St Combs is a real maze of narrow streets; the walk begins from the Community Hall on Corsekelly Place. Leaving the car park, turn right along the street towards the sea, then left t the end along Seaview. Fork right down Church Street, then turn right down a track along the near side of the high cemetery wall. This heads downhill to join another track; bear right along this. The track continues behind the dunes. After a few hundred metres it passes a stone seat with an old concrete slip - continue ahead along the track until a grassy junction. From here turn left between the dunes to reach the sandy beach.

Stage 2

Unless the tide is high (in which case you would have to continue behind the dunes) - turn right along the beach. Continue walking south, passing close to the impressive dunes which can be seen stretching away into the distance all the way to the lighthouse at Rattray Head. This beach has a wild feel, and there are often seals basking on the sand - if you see them, keep a good distance as they can easily be disturbed.

Stage 3

Eventually progress along the beach is blocked by the outflow from the Loch of Strathbeg flowing out to sea. Here it is necessary to head inland around the edge of the lagoon formed by the slow moving water - a great habitat for wading birds. There is little path and the going is quite rough where the river has cut into the dunes in places - depending on the water level, you may need to go higher in the dunes.

Stage 4

Continue, crossing a footbridge over a drainage canal. On the far side pass through a gate and then cross the grassy field to the left to reach another larger bridge, this time across the main outflow of the Loch of Strathbeg. On the far side turn left back downstream towards the beach once more. The direct route back to the sand is however blocked by a lagoon; when the flat grassy area is reached bear right (south), following the bottom of the sandy bank. Many birds can often be seen on the tidal lagoon between here and the main dune system.

Stage 5

Follow faint grassy tracks, sometimes a little wet underfoot, for almost a kilometre until it is possible to cross the ground towards the dunes safely without getting your feet wet. A faint sandy vehicle track then eases the passage over the dunes (good views back over Loch Strathbeg) and back down onto the beach. Now continue along the beach, which is truly magnificent on this stretch. The lighthouse at Rattray Head goes out of sight around a corner and three kilometres pass below the huge dunes before the corner is rounded and the lighthouse is seen again, now at closer quarters.

Stage 6

It stands on a giant plinth, well out amongst the waves except at the very lowest of low tides. When almost level with the lighthouse look for a gap in the dunes on the right where a sandy route heads inland. This soon becomes a track and leads to the former lightkeepers cottages behind the dunes. The walk as described ends here, where hopefully a sympathetic driver is waiting. If not then there is no public transport here; the only options are either to return the same way all the way back to St Combs, or a 5km walk along the track to reach the A90 where it may be possible to get a bus.

Route Profile

Where to stay

Gardenstown Hotels

Aberdeenshire B&B

Gardenstown cottages

Aberdeenshire hostels

Glamping and Camping

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