Buchan Coast-Courtesy of Billy Collie

Park the car at the 'Twa havens' Car park on the A975 north of Cruden Bay and leave the carpark on the path heading due east for the coast (not the one that cuts over to Slains Castle). Keep an eye out for roe deer can be seen to the right of you in Slains Lodge fields... they just lazily look at you and then bolt, at lightning speed towards Errolston woods to the west... a lovely sight. There is lots to look out for even before you get near the spectacular coastline.... there is a local barn owl, often seen towards
dusk and you would be disappointed not to see the local pair of buzzards, competeing with the resident Kestrels... Also a favourite place for Skylarks in spring and summer, always a favourite of mine with their swooping displays and high energy song!! and pippits too rock or meadow I am not sure - perhaps both?? and this is on the 'boring path'
to the sea... Also look out for the fairly rare marsh orchid in spring/summer - but pretty 'common' to us..

But of course you have only walked this short distance to get to the spectacular views between here and the Bullers of Buchan. Reaching the end of the path and turning north immediately gives you the breathtaking view of the 'island' ootpost of Dunbuy. Absolutely teaming with gulls and cormorants and shags in summer. The herring gulls tend to dominate Dunbuy but a short walk north brings you past the inlets of Grey Mare and Long Craig and in the summer you can watch the house martins and fulmar petrels flying BELOW you! - always great fun!! Here you can use your binoculars to search the smugglers caves for contraband goods - but no luck yet for me... Still the Kittiwakes awake at Arthur Fowlie and another spectacular view awaits - plus the summer Puffins... always the stars of the show!! There are also some fabulous rock formations - granite towers fallen over - it must be a geologists paradise?

The path it at its most difficult in the summer when the shrubbery and long grass run riot - but a fairly minor detour off the beaten path usually suffices. It is a beautiful, beautiful walk at any time of year and I sometimes pinch myself to think it is practically my back garden!! I still gaze out to sea religously in the hope of seeing the summer dolphins, whales and seals which frequent the area... I will just have to keep looking. Life has no guarantees - EXCEPT ... take this walk at any time of the year and you are GUARANTEED to see something interesting and as you end up at the south end of the Bullers car park it is 30- 45 minutes well spent, believe me...