Gardenstown

Explore the north Aberdeenshire coast During the first part of our journey, we make our way through the Aberdeenshire countryside, to the coastal villages of Gardenstown and Crovie. Built into the red sandstone cliffs the villages have a special and remote atmosphere. From the lovely harbour and beach, you can look out over the Moray Firth and perhaps catch a glimpse of the dolphins and other wildlife in the bay. The village of Gardenstown recently celebrated their 300th naming anniversary, and its harbour has a fleet of small fishing boats. On the quayside, you can occasionally see men preparing their lobster pots for the next catch, as well as the Salmon House which contains the Heritage Centre. We encourage you to take a walk along the coastal path which take you to Crovie, dating from the 18th century, if the tide allows. Crovie is the smallest and most remote of Buchan cliff-foot fishing villages, it comprises a single row of houses, most gable-end to the sea.

Pennan

We need a Hero Pennan came into existence as a fishing village in the 18th century. The people of Pennan were dependent on the sea and most families had small boats, often multiple generations of the same family lived in the village. With a pebble stone beach and smart houses with colourful windows, there is a charm and peacefulness in the village that tempts you to linger and listen to the waves. Pennan became famous in the 1980s for being used as one of the main locations for the film Local Hero and representing the fictional village of Ferness. Film enthusiasts have come from all over the world to make a phone call in the red telephone box which featured in the film.