Formartine and Buchan Way

The Formartine and Buchan Way is a long-distance footpath in Scotland, extending from Dyce north to Peterhead and Fraserburgh in the Buchan and Formartine districts of Aberdeenshire in Scotland. It follows the track of a former railway line, the Formartine and Buchan Railway, and is open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders.[2] The railway closed in 1979 (Fraserburgh) and 1970 (Maud-Peterhead). The walkway opened in the early 1990s, and is managed by Aberdeenshire Council.[4] It is listed as one of Scotland's Great Trails by Scottish Natural Heritage.[3] Places of interest along the way include Drinnes Wood Observatory, Strichen Stone Circle, Aden Country Park, Deer Abbey and The White Horse at Strichen.

Formatine and Buchan Way
Formatine and Buchan Way at Logierieve.
Length64 km (40 mi) to Fraserburgh, plus 21 km (13 mi) spur to Peterhead.[1]
LocationAberdeenshire, Scotland
DesignationScotland's Great Trails
Trailheads
UseWalking, cycling, horseriding[2]
Elevation
Elevation gain/loss420 metres (1,380 ft) gain[3]
Hiking details
SeasonAll Year
Websitehttps://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/paths-and-outdoor-access/long-distance-routes/formartine-and-buchan-way/
Udny Station looking along the footpath.

The total path is around 85 kilometres (53 mi) long if both spurs are walked and can be accessed relatively easily by public transport or car.[2] 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.[5] 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 well maintained, and few parts are overgrown. However, the Maud to Strichen section has a detour because of overgrown shrubbery, marshy conditions and numerous problems such as gates and fences blocking access.

Much of the route is not suitable for cycling, particularly 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.

Access barrier at Auchnagatt.

Sections
Start point End point Length[6] Notes
km mi
DyceUdny Station13 8.1
Udny StationEllon8 5.0
EllonAuchnagatt12 7.5
AuchnagattMaud7 4.3
MaudStrichen9 5.6
StrichenFraserburgh17.5 10.9
DyceFraserburgh64 40Total excluding Peterhead branch[1]
MaudLongside11.5 7.1Peterhead branch
LongsidePeterhead10.5 6.5Peterhead branch
MaudFraserburgh21 13Total for Peterhead branch[1]
Complete route[1]85 53

History of the route
Main article: Formartine and Buchan Railway

The 29-mile (47 km) long railway from Dyce to Mintlaw railway station opened on 18 July 1861, with the 13-mile (21 km) section from Maud to Peterhead railway station opening the following year. A 15-mile (24 km) long section north to Fraserburgh railway station opened on 24 April 1865.[7] Passenger services were withdrawn by the Scottish Region of British Railways 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.[6]

References
  1. "Formartine and Buchan Way - Route Cards". Aberdeenshire Council. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  2. "Formatine and Buchan Way". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  3. "Trails". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  4. "SNH Commissioned Report 380: Developing the network of longer distance routes" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 2010. p. 19. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  5. "Formartine and Buchan Way". Aberdeenshire Council. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  6. "Formatine and Buchan Way". WalkHighlands. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  7. Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0049-7. OCLC 19514063. CN 8983., (1990). p.132

See also

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