Seaton Cliffs and Auchmithie, Arbroath

This classic coastal walk explores the Seaton Cliffs which extend north from Arbroath and have a wealth of red sandstone formations. The walk continues as far as Auchmithie - where there is a popular cafe; the return has an inland variant or you could shorten the walk by taking a bus back to Arbroath.

Terrain

Good coastal path, mostly surfaced but with a rougher section down to a rocky foreshore with steps. The alternative return is less clear and involves some muddy going, but can be omitted by retracing your steps.

Public Transport

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

Start

Victoria Park car park, Arbroath. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 11.5km / 7.25 miles
Time: 3 - 4 hours
Ascent: 342m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NO658411

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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.

Stage 4

The view ahead now includes the Deil's Head - a bulbous sea-stack. Continuing along the coast path there are more good views of the stack. Further on the path reaches the southern end of Carlingheugh Bay.

Stage 5

The clifftop path ahead is blocked by a landslide, so turn right and descend the steps down to the rocky shore. Continue across this for some distance until the obvious path that cuts back left to climb up the far side of the bay. Turn right to resume the walk along the clifftop.

Stage 6

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.

Stage 7

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. Soon a bus stop is passed - if energy is short there is a service back to Arbroath from here. There's also a popular cafe called the But n Ben - a great place for a pit stop or lunch. Further on you can fork right 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 8

You could of course return to Arbroath along the coast, but a variation is possible which cuts out a short distance at the cost of rougher going. 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 often seen on either side. Keep straight ahead at each of two junctions where tracks go off to the right, eventually reaching the woods of Seaton Den.

Stage 9

Go through an old gate here into the Den and straight ahead until you reach a clearer path through the woods. Turn left and follow the path to a signpost. Turn right here to head down to another sign - Arbroath is marked left here, but if you take that route you have to climb up and then descend back across Carlinheugh Bay. Instead cross the burn at the bottom of the Den and follow the path heading diagonally left up the far side. At the top the blocked path runs back towards the coast along the top of the den. Turn right off this onto a faint track through fields, then turn left when a broader track is reached. This soon leads back to the clifftops - turn right to retrace your steps to the start.

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