@ENERGETICA_UK ENERGETICA.UK.COM WALK ON THE WILD SIDE WITH ENERGETICA PETERHEAD HARBOUR THE BULLERS OF BUCHAN CRUDEN BAY COLLIESTON FORVIE NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE NEWBURGH AND THE YTHAN BALMEDIE DYCE THE ABERDEEN BUSINESS WALK AROUND ENERGETICA FOREWORD ABERDEENSHIRE PROVOST JILL WEBSTER THE LORD PROVOST OF ABERDEEN GEORGE ADAM AS PROVOST OF ABERDEENSHIRE I KNOW HOW MUCH ABERDEEN IS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY, LOCATED IN THE THIS AREA HAS TO OFFER, FROM THE RICHNESS AND NORTH-EAST OF SCOTLAND. SINCE THE 1970S, IT HAS BEAUTY OF OUR LANDSCAPES TO THE DIVERSITY OF BEEN THE HUB OF THE UK’S ENERGY INDUSTRY AND IS THE LOCAL WILDLIFE. HOME TO MANY PEOPLE OF MANY NATIONALITIES WHO HELP TO MAKE IT A FABULOUS MULTI-CULTURAL CITY. From the north of Aberdeen all the way All along the Energetica corridor there to Peterhead, the Energetica corridor are great opportunities to spend time Aberdeen is key to the UK and Scottish The annual Energetica Walking & Wildlife truly offers some of the most stunning outdoors, from pond-dipping at Peterhead economies and an internationally Festival offers a programme-packed scenery in the whole of Scotland. Long to coastal walks at Collieston and dolphin recognised business centre with globally weekend of activities and events for all sandy beaches, sheer cliff faces, vast watching in Aberdeen harbour. competitive industries, excellent academic the family to enjoy. It also highlights nature reserves and seashores teeming and research capabilities and a highly the range of walks and opportunities with life make this area the perfect Many of these activities are available all THE PROVOST skilled workforce. We have drive and amid the fabulous coastal scenery of the THE LORD PROVOST OF ABERDEENSHIRE OF ABERDEEN hotspot for outdoor enthusiasts of all year round, or at least during the spring, ambition and the enviable position as one Energetica corridor which are on offer to ages and abilities. summer and autumn months. This guide of the top five energy cities in the world. everyone all year round. highlights some of the best walks and The Energetica corridor is abundant activities to help you make the most of Aberdeen is a cosmopolitan city I would encourage everyone to take with a huge diversity of wildlife which the Energetica corridor and all it has with stunning architecture, superb time out of their busy schedules to get also makes it well worth a visit. See to offer. dining, retail and leisure opportunities, outdoors, enjoy some light exercise, thousands of seabirds including puffins surrounded by the outstanding breathe in some fresh sea air and learn at Bullers of Buchan, look out for otters See the sea cave at Bullers of Buchan, Aberdeenshire countryside and stunning more about the wonderful natural at Haddo and spot dolphins swimming spot seals at Newburgh or stretch your coastline which includes the Energetica history and local history along the route at Aberdeen Harbour. legs in a walk to Aberdeen’s beach after corridor up to Peterhead. of the Energetica corridor. a long day at work. I hope you enjoy May 2014 was the second year of the the walks and activities suggested in Energetica Walking & Wildlife Festival, which this guide and use it to kick start a new offers two-days of family-friendly outdoor journey to discover the natural beauty in activities showcasing how much there is to the Energetica corridor. see and do in this part of Scotland. FORVIE NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE PETERHEAD HARBOUR PETERHEAD HARBOUR IS TYPICAL OF WHAT ENERGETICA MEANS; THRIVING INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH FANTASTIC WILDLIFE AND RECREATION. THE BUSTLING HARBOUR IS HOME TO BOTH THE BUSIEST WHITEFISH PORT IN EUROPE AND THE ASCO OIL & GAS BASE WHICH HAS SERVED AS THE GENERAL STORE TO THE NORTH SEA OIL INDUSTRY FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS. ECONOMICALLY THIS IS A MAJOR HUB, BUT IF YOU LOOK CLOSER YOU WILL FIND THERE IS A LOT MORE TO IT THAN INDUSTRY. On warm summer days children build For true birdwatchers a spell of extreme LONG-TAILED & EIDER DUCKS sand castles and swim in some of winter weather can bring in rare gulls the cleanest waters in Scotland at from the north, with the iceland gull and Peterhead’s award-winning beach. the mighty glaucus gull sometimes seen Meanwhile, local and visiting yachts in double figures. Peterhead Harbour bustle in and out of the sheltered deep is also one of the best sites to see the water marina. Not the kind of activity you incredibly rare Ross’s gull which is might expect in a busy industrial harbour. usually found at the edge of pack ice 1,000-miles north. Wildlife finds a home here too; the harbour is a magnate for large hungry seals and during the winter, seaducks SEALS such as eider and the graceful long- tailed duck feed in the sheltered waters. BUCHAN NESS LIGHTHOUSE PETERHEAD FISH MARKET ASCO OIL & GAS BASE 1 PETERHEAD BEACH & MARINA 2 THE BULLERS OF BUCHAN HEADING SOUTH FROM PETERHEAD, THE COAST BECOMES INCREASINGLY ROCKY AND WILD AS IT SWEEPS PAST THE FISHING VILLAGE OF BODDAM. THE LONGHAVEN CLIFFS, A SCOTTISH WILDLIFE TRUST RESERVE, BRUSH AGAINST A HUGE QUARRY, WHILE THE NEW PATH NETWORK AT STIRLING HILL OFFERS GREAT VIEWS AND HISTORY FROM THE NEOLITHIC PERIOD RIGHT THE WAY THROUGH TO THE MODERN INDUSTRIAL AGE. AT THE HEART OF THIS RUGGED COASTLINE IS THE COLLAPSED SEA CAVE, THE BULLERS OF BUCHAN. A SHORT WALK CAN BE ENJOYED BY MOST, WHILST LONGER WALKS ARE A MORE SERIOUS UNDERTAKING AS THE PATH IS NARROW AND CLOSE TO A SHEER DROP. PUFFINS AT THE BULLERS OF BUCHAN ARCH AN DUNSBY BULLERS OF BUCHAN THE BULLERS OF BUCHAN TASTER WALK From the large car park on the A975 is a sinkhole, where the roof of a sea This outcrop is also the best place locally Puffins and guillemots return by the end It is also possible to leave your car in road, walk down to the pretty hamlet of cave has collapsed leaving a large hole to look for puffins, which can be seen of March. During the spring and early Cruden Bay village, take a bus to Bullers PUFFIN the same name, Bullers of Buchan. This connected to the sea by a small arch. at the entrance to rabbit holes close to summer this is a busy place with the noise of Buchan and walk back to your car is a classic fishing village with a steep the top of the cliffs to your right. Below, of thousands of birds filling the air, but by along the cliffs and past the magnificent walk down to the boats which must have It is possible to walk all the way around hundreds of guillemots and razorbills early August the last of the chicks have left New Slains Castle. been a challenge for the fishermen, and the edge of the pot, but please note this crowd onto the cliffs whilst shags build the cliffs and quiet returns. the walk back up the hill with the catch can be a treacherous route so please precarious nests at its base. even harder. stick to the well-made path on the left. This spot is a great place to sit and BREACHING BOTTLENOSED DOLPHIN A little way past the pot, the high-quality Fulmars are normally the first bird watch the amazing coastal wildlife. For a Follow the path to the right of the path ends at a headland which gives back to Bullers of Buchan in February. longer walk, continue following the path hamlet and after 30 metres you leave a beautiful view out to sea and is a These birds may look like gulls, but north, or you can return to the village the village following a well-maintained fantastic place for watching whales and they are in fact more closely related and keep walking south. Both routes can but narrow path. The views of the sea dolphins with orca killer whales, Risso’s to the albatross, flying just above the be hard going, featuring narrow paths increase and in spring or summer the dolphin and minke whale all seen from waves on straight wings. People rock which are often very close to the edge sound of countless breeding seabirds that spot in 2013. climbing soon learn to avoid these birds of the cliff, so care must be taken. will be filling the air as you approach at nesting time as they can regurgitate “the pot”. The Bullers of Buchan pot oily fish with a high degree of precision 3 if threatened. 4 CRUDEN BAY CRUDEN BAY HAS A GLORIOUS BEACH, A STRONG COMMUNITY AND A FEW SECRETS. TO THE NORTH, THE MIGHTY CLIFFS OF THE BULLERS OF BUCHAN DOMINATE THE VISTA, AND TO THE SOUTH THE LONG GLORIOUS SANDY BEACH SWEEPS ON ALMOST TO SLAINS CASTLE THE NEIGHBOURING HAMLET OF WHINNYFOLD. BEHIND THE BEACH A LINE OF SAND DUNES HOST CRUDEN BAY GOLF COURSE, ONE OF THE TOP COURSES IN BRITAIN. SUNSET AT CRUDEN BAY CRUDEN BAY Indeed, in years gone by this was the Past the Ladies Bridge is the harbour If you have time, follow the narrow path place to be seen, with the upper classes known as Port Errol. Salmon nets dry on north to view the Arch of Dunsby, a travelling by train from all over Britain a small green while small pleasure boats small island covered in breeding birds to stay at the famous Cruden Bay Hotel. and the odd creel boat use the harbour. that has almost been split in half by the One of the tramcars which transported In the summer children catch mackerel sea.