Formartine and Buchan Way

Udny Station looking along the footpath.

Formatine and Buchan Way at Logierieve.

The Formartine and Buchan Way is a long-distance footpath in Scotland, extending from Dyce north to Peterhead and Fraserburgh. It follows the track of a former railway line, the Formartine and Buchan Railway, and is open to walkers and cyclists. Horse riders are also welcome on parts of the track but may require a permit. The railway closed in 1979 (Fraserburgh) and 1970 (Maud-Peterhead). The walkway opened in the early 1990s.

Accessibility

The path is around 53 miles (85 km) long and can be accessed relatively easily by public transport or car. Only the Maud station is less accessible by bus. A map of the Formatine and Buchan way is no longer available from local tourist offices, but it is marked on OS maps.

Route

The path starts at Dyce (57°12′20″N 2°11′32″W / 57.2056°N 2.1923°W / 57.2056; -2.1923), which is on the outskirts of Aberdeen City. It passes to the east of Newmachar and through Udny Station before reaching Ellon after 13 miles (21 km). It continues north through Auchnagatt before reaching the crossroads of Maud. The Ellon to Maud section is 12.5 miles (20.1 km) long. At Maud the Way goes east to Peterhead (57°30′32″N 1°47′37″W / 57.5088°N 1.7935°W / 57.5088; -1.7935) and north to Fraserburgh (57°41′36″N 2°00′13″W / 57.6933°N 2.0037°W / 57.6933; -2.0037). It is 13 miles (21 km) to Peterhead and 15.5 to Fraserburgh.

Places of interest

Places of interest along the way include Drinnes Wood Observatory, Strichen Stone Circle, Aden Country Park, Deer Abbey and The White Horse at Strichen.

Signage and condition of way

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.

Users

Many cyclists use the way as a commuting route into Dyce, Fraserburgh and Peterhead. Dog walkers are also a common sight.

Related local railway walks

Many walkers and cyclists in the local area also use the Deeside Way. It is open between Aberdeen and Culter and has recently been extended to Banchory using a mix of minor roads and railway track.

Closure of the railway and proposal for re-opening

The Peterhead-Maud section of the railway closed in 1970. The Dyce-Fraserburgh route closed as late as 1979. This closure was particularly controversial. The closure happened just as the oil boom was taking off and housing in towns like Ellon in particular was expanding. Ellon has 50% more inhabitants now than in 1979, and the lack of a railway leads to traffic congestion on the A90.

Transport Scotland is assessing the Aberdeen Crossrail project with through trains from Stonehaven to Inverurie. Part of the scope of this is to consider the re-opening of sections of the Buchan line. The cost is estimated to £400 million.

External links

Formartine and Buchan Way guide and mapping on Walkhighlands
Aberdeenshire Council's F & BW website
Tourist info on the Way
Information about the former railway

Footpaths in Scotland

Highlands and northern Scotland	Ca na Catanach Clachlet Traverse Cape Wrath Trail Cateran Trail Coast to Coast Cowal Way East Highland Way Great Glen Way Gordon Way Moray Way Rob Roy Way Scottish National Trail Speyside Way West Highland Way

Southern Uplands	Annandale Way Borders Abbeys Way Clyde walkway John Buchan Way Southern Upland Way

Coastal paths	Arran Coastal Way Ayrshire Coastal Path Fife Coastal Path John Muir Way Moray Coast trail Scottish Coastal Way

Trans-border (partly in England)	Central Scottish Way Northumberland Coast Path North Sea Trail Pennine Way Roman Heritage Way St Cuthbert's Way

Canal towpaths, rail trails etc	Caledonian Canal Crinan Canal Dava Way Deeside Way Devon Way Dingwall Canal Drovers' road Formartine and Buchan Way Forth and Clyde Canal (Pathway) Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal Hillend Loch Railway Path Monkland Canal Old military roads of Scotland Penicuik–Dalkeith Walkway Stevenston Canal Strathkelvin Railway Path Union Canal Water of Leith Walkway

Settlements and places of interest in Buchan, Aberdeenshire

Primary settlements	Boddam Crimond Cruden Bay Fetterangus Hatton Longside Maud Mintlaw New Deer New Pitsligo Peterhead St Combs St Fergus Strichen Stuartfield

Other settlements	Auchnagatt Buchanhaven Clola Inverugie Lonmay New Leeds Old Deer Rora Tyrie Whinnyfold

Places of interest	Aden Country Park/Aberdeenshire Farming Museum Bullers of Buchan Crimonmogate Deer Abbey Formartine and Buchan Way Loch of Strathbeg Maritime Heritage Museum Rattray Rattray Head Slains Castle

Settlements and places of interest in Formartine, Aberdeenshire

Primary settlements	Balmedie Cuminestown Ellon Fyvie Newburgh Oldmeldrum Pitmedden Potterton Rothienorman Tarves Turriff

Other settlements	Auchterless Barthol Chapel Belhelvie Blackdog Bogton Cairnorrie Collieston Craigdam Foveran Garmond Gight Inverkeithny Methlick Udny Green Udny Station Whitecairns Whiterashes Woodhead of Fyvie Ythanbank

Places of interest	Balmedie Country Park Craigston Castle Delgatie Castle Esslemont Castle Formartine and Buchan Way Fyvie Castle Haddo House Knockhall Castle Pitmedden Garden Sands of Forvie Tolquhon Castle Ythan Estuary

Coordinates: 57°26′52″N 2°06′47″W / 57.4477°N 2.1131°W / 57.4477; -2.1131 (Formartine and Buchan Way)

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