Traveling north from Angus the next region you will come to is Aberdeenshire either on the A90 duel carriageway if you wish to travel a little faster, a slower route travelling on the A92 scenic route which brings you out of Dundee, through Arbroath and Montrose to the border of Angus and Aberdeenshire, don’t get confused with Kincardineshire which is part of Aberdeenshire.
Travelling on the A92 going across the bridge into Aberdeenshire a hidden entrance immediately to your right will take you down to the St Cyrus Nature Reserve passing by small holdings, the reserve has a large car park with a small visitors centre giving you information about the reserve. During the Spring and Summer breeding birds and rare flowers and plants so please stick to the path and keep dogs on leads. St Cyrus NNR is also one of the best-known bird sites in Angus and Kincardine, with over 70 different species of bird being recorded there. These include waders such asredshank,oystercatcher,common sandpiperandcurlew. The cliffs also provide a home forbuzzard,kestrelandperegrine falcon. Furthermore, the prevalence ofgorseshrub provides a nesting place for such small perching birds aswhitethroat,stonechatandyellowhammer.
With the abundance of wildflowers, St Cyrus NNR is also an important site for butterflies, moths and grasshoppers. One species of particular note is theSmall bluebutterfly, a UKBiodiversity Action Plan(BAP) species at its northern habitat limit. There have also been over 200 species of moth recorded on the reserve
The duck boards will take you across the bridge to the beach, the beach is wonderfully clean and plenty of drift wood which sometimes local artists sometimes build art work, the beach has dunes so on the windy days you can get among them for shelter. You can walk 3 miles along the beach the base of the cliffs if you follow the path to the top of the cliff you will find the village of St Cyrus. If you walk from the reserve car park and follow the grass path you may be lucky to see rare sea birds as well as small deer, during the walk which also take you to St Cyrus village you will find a 17th Watch House at Kirkside Cemetery, the watch house was for the guard paid to watch for grave robbers.
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Village of St Cyrus is the next place you come to a small quiet village with a small hotel, shop and tea room, between the school and the church you can gain access to a cliff side slope to take you to the beach or walk along the cliff top which has fantastic views and ideal for photographers. The village has a tradition. It was the sight of a couple in the snow on their wedding day that led a civil servant to establish one of Scotland’s quirkiest wedding day traditions. John Orr, the Accountant General of Madras, is said to have been so moved by the newlyweds struggling in the cold conditions in his home village of St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire, that he offered them some money.
From a one off gift to help out this couple in the cold, Mr Orr was to continue this donation to struggling newly-weds. He was a very wealthy man and in his will he left his money to continue this tradition – but stated some very clear rules about who this annual gift of money should be given to. Orrdied in 1845 after which the interest from the money in the bank was to be split five ways. Four parts of it were split between four brides– the tallest, the shortest, the youngest and the oldest. Themeasuring stick was to be used to find the worthy “Dowry Bride of St Cyrus”.
However in 1991, as thevalue of the money remaining in the bank plummeted, the Kirk Session decided to replace the cash with a small engraved vase.
Only four weddings a year they still keep up Orr’s bequest. Now they give a vase to the youngest, tallest, shortest and oldest bride in St Cyrus goes on.
Travelling further forward the scenic route continues as you do you will see side roads pointing to villages, if you have time its suggested that you stop and take a look, these are hidden gems along the NE coast as people travel to fast and never stop to look and see. Many of these have just a few houses gain access to quiet beaches which some have remenants of small inlets dating back a few hundred years and ideal for a short walk, photography and bird spotting.
The next stop along the A92 is Johnshaven which is 7miles north of Montrose, the small picturesque village which is home of thenationally acclaimed Fish Festival, Johnshaven is the perfect location from which to launch your holiday adventures in the North East of Scotland. The beach and grass path walks along the tides edge is just a peaceful thing today any time of the day and the tides wash up interesting things is tiny coves which for beachcombers it’s ideal. There are a few interesting shops in Johnshaven for a souvenir to take home for a friend or even kept for yourself. In the past Johnshaven was a busy fishing village but as the boats grew bigger and Scotland needed more fish the harbour slowly closed but it’s open for visitors with friendly guest houses.
A further few miles north you will come to another larger fishing village which has a working harbour called Gourdon, if you’re looking for fresh seafood the Lobster pots are piled around the harbour and there are three traditional fish merchants that still fillet and smoke fish in sheds on the harbour side and supply fish. It is becoming rare to see fishing ports like this, so it is hoped that Gourdon weathers the vagaries of the fishing industry as it has in the past and continues to thrive. The double harbour which was built in 1820, along with a pub and a fish and chip restaurant then your all set for an evening watching the sun set while eating fish and chips. If you are a sailor and have a small craft then it can be launched from here at high tide until then why not take a walk around the village, the old lifeboat station and visit The Maggie Law Museum inside is one of the first inshore lifeboats, built in 1890 and rowed by six men she was in service for 40 years and saved 36 lives.
The severe loss of life by the fishermen of Gourdon, before Todhead Lighthouse was built, meant that this wild and rocky coast claimed many lives, often wiping out three generations of one family in a single tragedy.
The fishermen of Gourdontook it upon themselves to provide their own solution, and paid a penny in the pound from their catches, to build and maintain an inshore surf boat that would ride the foam, and save fishermen’s lives. The coast between Johnshaven and Gourdon are worth the walk with the collection of rock pool and the sea life seen in them along with the remains of 17th century cottages workings and it is just a great walk.
The next stop north is Inverbervie or Bervie as it’s known locally with its pebbled beach and large car park its an nice village to stay in or just stop for a break. A small harbour in the town was important in early years but despite improvements byThomas Telfordin 1819, disappeared by 1830 owing to the build-up of the shingle bar at the river mouth. The firstflax spinning millin Scotland was established here at the Haughs around 1790 and by 1910 there were nine in operation employing 500-600 workers. As a result of this, the population of the settlement peaked at over 2,500 around the turn of the 20th Century but has since declined owing the downturn in that industry. One of Bervies famous sons is Hercules Linton, designer of theCutty Sarkclipper ship where a memorial stone stands. Hallgreen Castle, founded in 1376, standing on a bluff overlooking the sea towards the southern end of the town. If you’re a beach fisherman Bervie is ideal for winter storm fishing and using lug worms that can be dug locally are the best to use, but caution is to be used during the winter high tides as the stones can shift underfoot. A supermarket, newsagents and a fish and chip shop once voted best in Scotland is well worth a seat inside or on the bench at the Linton memorial, along with B&B’s Bervie is a fine stop of place for coast excursions. As you leave Bervie you will cross the ornate Jubilee Bridge which takes you onto the next stop.
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A small fishing village of Catterline is always worth a stop with its little harbour and stunning scenery, it’s one of the coasts hidden gems, with a B&B and restaurant called the Creel Inn you really cannot go past and while you’re there enjoy a walk Crawton and the nearby nature reserve, then Vale Head and Hope’s Cove.
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Visiting North East Scotland is not complete without visiting the now world famous Dunnottar Castle many people have seen it as part of the slide show with Windows 7 operating system. The stunning castle juts out into the sea perched high on a rock which at one point was attached to the land bridge but now it takes a little effort to get there down on to the beach via steps then up again to the castle door, it’s unfortunate that it is situated this way and many people miss out as no wheelchair access is possible and those with mobility problems it is also difficult, but even the view from top of the cliff at the end of the flat path is worth it and every day the castle looks different. The castle site goes back hundreds of years but most famous for the ‘Honours of Scotland’ which is the Scottish crown jewels and where kept in the castle by the Royalists during the 16th century, when under siege by Cromwell’s men during the English civil war they were smuggled out during the night and lowered down the castle wall and the cliff to the daughter or wife the story is not to clear on that matter, where they were smuggled to Kinneff church where the minister buried them under the floor in front of the alter, every few months he would dig them up, cleaned them and then reburied them thus saving them from Cromwell. The church of Kinneff is between Gourdon and Dunnottar and is signed posted and has a display and story of the Honours of Scotland.
Dunnottar Castle is worth a day outing plenty to see, plenty to learn about touching such history is worth the climb down the steps. The castle was the idea for the castle in the animated film Brave and has had many famous visitors stopping by some landing helicopter on the cliff top. See the Silver room and the hall with ornate panelling, dungeons and plenty of room for children to run about and have your picnic. Your host has spent many hours at the castle and find something new on every return. Even when you have finished with the castle you still have the beach with its natural harbour and if you’re lucky you may find a musket ball one of thousands fired during the siege of the castle, from humble beginnings of a hermits hole to what stands today is a testament to medieval engineers and castle builders and if your these when the Piper is there you have the sounds of the bagpipes to bring real Scottish authenticity to your visit you will never forget.
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Coming from Dunnottar you can turn right along the cliff road where you can stop and get a superb bird’s eye view of Stonehaven, then carry on into the town or turn left join the final stretch of the A92 which then joins to the A90 duel carriageway. Before you join the A90 the turn off onto the A957 into Stonehaven which is the next stop.
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If you joining the A90 from the A92 from Montrose take the A937 which will take you on scenic country road through some large villages of Craigo and Marykirk which of Marykirk has a very interesting history, a stop is advised as the village has had an ecumenical presence since at least medieval times and looking into the church and its yard will show some interesting buildings While we return follow to follow the A90 from where it slips into Aberdeenshire at the North Water Bridge with interesting villages and towns along the way between here and there we re-join the road at Stonehaven.
Crossing the A90 at North Water Bridge into the Aberdeenshire countryside then follow the signs for the A937. The first large village is Laurencekirk a scenic village which the locals are very proud of and their 1940’s style high street, the main road is well worth the walk, it’s quiet. A public park known as Kinnear Square lies at the south end of Laurencekirk with a well-kept area ideal for a break as with only a short car ride from the A90 makes an ideal pit stop. Laurencekirk has three public houses; the Crown, The Royal and the Western. If you are feeling energetic then theJohnston Tower, which is situated on the Garvock Hill alongside a wind farm, just ask a local and they will point you in the right direction.
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Taking the B9120 west out of Laurencekirk you will find the village of Fettercain with its rural laid out village with beautiful vintage feel houses. Standing in the centre is the Mercat Cross with the markings showing the Scottish Ell which is method of measurement one ell is approximately 37 inches and it was standardised in the 16th century. It was used in the expression "Gie 'im an inch, an he'll tak an ell"(equivalent to "Give him an inch, and he'll take a mile" or "... he'll take ayard"
A memorial archway erected in 1864 commemorates the 1861 visit byQueen VictoriaandPrince Albert, while staying atBalmoral.Leaves from the journal of our life in the highlandsdescribes aspects of their visit.Queen Victoriawrites "At a quarter-past seven o'clock we reached the small quiet town, or rather village, of Fettercairn, for it was very small-not a creature stirring, and we got out at the quiet little inn, "Ramsay Arms"
The small shop has a very nice selection of locally grown produce including hams and venison, if you looking for a sandwich or a roll for lunch freshly made the local shop has it. Looking for something more substantial then you can drop into the Ramsay Arms which of course Queen Victoria and her husband mentioned.
While you’re in the Ramsay Arms maybe you can taste an home grown whisky made right there is Fettercairn, the distillery is open to visitors and you can get a tour with a tasting of Fettercairn 1824"single maltwhisky so much to see and do in such a small place. Fettercairn Distillery was founded in 1824 by Alexander Ramsay, owner of the Fasque estate, who converted a corn mill at Nethermill into a distillery. After losing his fortune, Alexander was forced to sell the estate to the Gladstone family in 1829. John Gladstone’s son William Gladstone, went on to become Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer and was instrumental in passing various reforms on the taxation of whisky. Fettercairn is a pure spirit which is crafted by its unique stills and forged through temperate maturation. Within its process, the distillery uses a unique irrigator ring that surrounds the stills which drenches the still to deliver only the purest spirit.
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Just outside the village is the birth place of one of the UK greatest Prime Ministers, Gladstone, the house is open for visitors call first. Fasque House or Fasque Castle was the property of theRamsays of Balmain, and the present house was completed around 1809, replacing an earlier house. It was purchased in 1829 bySir John Gladstone, 1st Baronet, father ofWilliam Ewart Gladstone, laterPrime Minister of the United Kingdom, who often stayed there. Fasque was a family home of the Gladstones until the 1930s, and was open to the public during the last quarter of the 20th century. In 2010 Fasque House was bought by Fasque House Properties Ltd and restoration work was begun. The house is a large sandstone building, in a symmetrical castellated style, with octagonal towers at the centre and corners of the main facade.
The structure remains relatively unchanged since its completion. Sir John Gladstone added a third storey to the central tower in 1830, and built the portico ofrusticatedpillars in the 1840s. The drawing room was expanded in 1905, and some servants' quarters were added before the beginning of the First World War. Innovative use of electricity meant that Fasque was possibly the first house in Scotland to be lit by electric lights, and had an electronic buzzer system as early as 1890. It was also noted for having innovative fire fighting and health and safety equipment in the 1920s. The house is a category Alisted building