The Formartine and Buchan Way is a

long-distance trail A long-distance trail (or long-distance footpath, track, way, greenway) is a longer recreational trail mainly through rural areas used for hiking, backpacking, cycling, horse riding or cross-country skiing. They exist on all continents excep ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

, extending from Dyce north to Peterhead and

Fraserburgh Fraserburgh (; sco, The Broch or ; gd, A' Bhruaich) is a town in Aberdeenshire (unitary), Aberdeenshire, Scotland with a population recorded in the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 Census at 13,100. It lies at the far northeast corner of Aber ...

in the Buchan and

Formartine Formartine ( gd, Fearann Mhàrtainn meaning "Martin's land") is a committee area in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This district extends north from the River Don to the River Ythan. It has a population of 36,478 (2001 Census). The committee area was ...

districts of

Aberdeenshire Aberdeenshire ( sco, Aiberdeenshire; gd, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain) is one of the 32 Subdivisions of Scotland#council areas of Scotland, council areas of Scotland. It takes its name from the County of Aberdeen which has substantially differe ...

. It follows the track of a former railway line, the

Formartine and Buchan Railway The Formartine and Buchan Railway was a railway company operating in the north-east of Scotland. It was built to link the important fishing ports of Fraserburgh and Peterhead with Aberdeen. It had a junction with the main line of the Great Nort ...

, and is open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The railway closed in 1979 (Fraserburgh) and 1970 (Maud-Peterhead). The walkway opened in the early 1990s, and is managed by Aberdeenshire Council. It is listed as one of

Scotland's Great Trails Scotland's Great Trails are long-distance "people-powered" trails in Scotland, analogous to the National Trails of England and Wales or the Grande Randonnée paths of France. The designated routes are primarily intended for walkers, but may have se ...

by NatureScot. Places of interest along the way include Drinnes Wood Observatory,

Strichen Stone Circle Strichen stone circle is a Megalithic recumbent stone circle located near Strichen, Aberdeenshire in the north east of Scotland. It has been destroyed twice and in the early 1980s was excavated and reconstructed. General description Strichen ...

Aden Country Park Aden Country Park is located in Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, first mentioned in the 10th-century ''Book of Deer''. The park has a caravan area with camping, a small shop, a small cafe near the agricultural museum, a play area, the maintained ...

Deer Abbey Deer Abbey was a Cistercian monastery in Buchan, Scotland. It was founded by 1219 under the patronage William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan, who is also buried there. History There was an earlier community of Scottish monks or priests, nev ...

and The White Horse at Strichen. The total path is around long if both spurs are travelled and can be accessed relatively easily by public transport or car. An information pack detailing the route has been produced by Aberdeenshire Council: the pack can be purchased from local tourist information centres and is also available to download. The route is also marked on OS maps. The path is well signposted and is easy to follow. The track is relatively flat and undulates only when roads have to be crossed. It is mostly well mowed. The Maud to Strichen section has a detour because of overgrown shrubbery, marshy conditions and impassable fencing. Much of the route is not suitable for those on adapted cycles, due to frequent access barriers, except where the route is shared by National Cycle Network Route 1, between Auchnagatt and Maud. Barrier on Formartine and Buchan cycle route at Auchnagatt

Barrier on Formartine and Buchan cycle route at Auchnagatt

Sections

History of the route

The long railway from Dyce to

Mintlaw railway station Mintlaw railway station was a railway station in Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire (Scotland). History The 29 mile long railway from Dyce to Mintlaw opened on 18 July 1861, with the extension to Peterhead opening the following year. This station opened as ...

opened on 18 July 1861, with the section from Maud to

Peterhead railway station Peterhead railway station was a railway station in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. History The railway station was opened on 3 July 1862 by the Formartine and Buchan Railway. To the north was the goods yard, further north was a locomotive shed and t ...

opening the following year. A long section north to

Fraserburgh railway station Fraserburgh railway station is a former railway station that once served the town of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. History The station was the terminus of the Formartine and Buchan Railway from Aberdeen. The principal traffic was fish, as Fra ...

opened on 24 April 1865., (1990). p.132 Passenger services were withdrawn by the

Scottish Region of British Railways The Scottish Region (ScR) was one of the six regions created on British Railways (BR) and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) and ex-London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) lines in Scotland. It existed from the creation o ...

in 1965 as part of the Beeching cuts. Freight trains continued to operate to Peterhead until 1970 and Fraserburgh until 1979. This was in spite of the fact a considerable amount of freight traffic was being generated by the off-shore oil and gas industry. Conversion of the line to a footpath and cycleway started in 1987, and was led by the Buchan Countryside Group.

References

External links

Official Website
from Aberdeenshire Council
Formartine and Buchan Way
guide and mapping on Walkhighlands

{{coord, 57.4477, -2.1131, dim:50000_region:GB, display=title, name=Formartine and Buchan Way Rail trails in Scotland Footpaths in Aberdeenshire Scotland's Great Trails Buchan

Sections

History of the route

See also

References

External links