Seaton Cliffs and Auchmithie, Arbroath

Explore the varied coastal scenery north of Arbroath on this excellent walk atop the sandstone cliffs. The walk could be shortened by taking a bus back to Arbroath from Auchmithie.NB: There are some signed diversions on the route at the moment due to coastal erosion.

Terrain

Good coastal path, mostly surfaced but with some steps. Some muddier farm tracks on return.

Public Transport

Arbroath is well served by buses and trains; 1.5km from start. Traveline Scotland.

Start

Victoria Park car park, Arbroath. Map and directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 11.75km / 7.25 miles
Time: 3 - 4 hours
Ascent: 165m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NO658411

Maps / GPS

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The most convenient car parking for the walk is at the north end of the road along the front at the north end of Arbroath; there is a car park at the far end of Victoria Park, near the public toilets. The walk follows the route of a Geodiversity Trail and a leaflet is available in the tourist information centre. Various features along the way are numbered with wooden posts - though these could be confused with more brightly painted posts whose numbers are intended to help the coastguard locate walkers who have left the path and got into difficulties.. Begin up the path that climbs up to the clifftop - with good views back towards Arbroath - and follow it along the coast - signed for Seaton Cliffs.

Stage 2

The tarred path passes the back of an geo (inlet cut by the sea) enabling you to see the red sandstone of the cliffs. Further along the first distinctive feature is reached, a rock arch well above the high tide mark and known as the Needle E'e (post 3), part of a collapsed sea cave. The reason for its position is that sea-level was once higher and it stands on the site of an old beach, 7 metres above the present beach. Continue on the path, passing a wooden sign that marks the start of the Seaton Cliffs nature reserve. Look out for the Crusie (post 5), where the sea has excavated two caves which have collapsed to form a blowhole on the right and a geo on the left.

Stage 3

Below an iron seat looking out to sea is another blowhole (no. 6); from here the path bends left to pass around the back of a deep inlet called Dickmont's Den. As you round the back of the Den you can see a cave in the north wall and also a detached stack of rock which seems to guard the entrance. A short distance further a grassy ridge (8) leads out on the right to a seat; this gives good views back along the cliffs on the right, and over to the Deil's Head - a bulbous sea-stack, to the left. Continuing along the coast path there are more good views of the stack.

Stage 4

The path now passes round the back of Carlingheugh Bay. A path leads down to the shore, but it is easier to stay on the tarmac cliffpath. NB: the cliffpath is temporarily closed; until it reopens you need to take the shore path to head round the bay and then rejoin the cliff path up steps (then continue from the next paragraph). It swings left inland at the foot of the Seaton Den ravine, crossing a feeder stream on a high wooden footbridge. Don't follow the tarmac path when it turns left after the bridge but instead keep ahead on the path into the trees, soon sloping down into Seaton Den and crossing the stream near a signpost. Here, turn right and follow a path as it climbs up the far side - signed for Auchmithie. It soon returns to the clifftop; ignore a path with steps that descends into Carlingheugh Bay.

Stage 5

Further on, Gaylet Pot is in a field on the left; this is a huge gloup or collapsed cave. It can only be visited if there are no crops in the field; take care if approaching it and it is best seen from the highest point on the rim, just east of the tall wooden marker pole. Continuing on the path, head left around another inlet to Tanglehall Cottages and then swing right to follow the cliffs. This soon leads to some cottages and then heads inland to join the public road on the edge of Auchmithie. This is an older fishing port than Arbroath and was the original home of the Smokie, but it is now a sleepy backwater of cottages. The return walk turns left onto a farm track at the point where the road is reached, but first it is worth detouring to the right to visit Auchmithie.

Stage 6

Soon a bus stop is passed - if energy is short there is a service back to Arbroath from here. Fork right after the bus stop onto a track which leads down towards the sea, soon giving views over the former harbour. You can then turn left up flights of steps to loop back into the village, turning left at the top of the steps and then forking left to follow a lane past a row of tiny old cottages. Turn left back onto the road and head back past the bus stop to the bend where the road was first joined.

Stage 7

You could of course return to Arbroath along the coast, but a variation is possible which cuts out a short distance. Go straight ahead at the bend onto a farm track between fields. After passing beneath the impressive house at Windyhills it reaches a t-junction of tracks. Turn left here, and then right at the end of the field. Now continue along the rough grassy track, with polytunnels for growing soft fruits in the field on the right. Keep straight ahead at each of two junctions where tracks go off to the right, eventually reaching the woods of Seaton Den. Go through a gate here into the Den to reach a path through the woods. Turn left and follow the path to a signpost where the outward route is rejoined. Turn right here to head down and across the burn at the bottom of the Den, and then simply retrace your steps all the way back to the car park and Arbroath.

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