TraceysTrek

See my whole journey and donate at TraceysTrek.uk

Best bits: buzzing at river crossing

Worst bits: achy legs

Distance: 20.5 miles

It was a late start this morning due to the bus service. I could’ve caught the 8:45 am with two changes that would take one and a half hours or get the 10:05 am direct that would take 45 minutes. It was a no brainer! Breakfast at McDonald’s where I filled my flask with tea as today there were no identifiable stops en route.

The bus arrived on time and managed to get through yesterday’s road closure as half the road was open today!

The route took me past St Fergus gas terminal which is huge. There were several chimneys with flares which I was to see from the beach later.

I jumped off the bus at Peterhead bus station and headed along the coast road before crossing a bridge to the golf course and then through the sand dunes. Peterhead is the most eastern settlement in mainland Scotland and the largest fishing port in the UK.

After about an hour walking Peterhead disappeared into the distance.

I have been very apprehensive about today’s walk. First of all it’s very long with no stopping places and secondly it’s predominantly beach walking. However my main anxiety was that there are three rivers I needed to cross. Having read previous reports people have waded through them!

I spent most of the day looking out to see hoping that I might catch a glimpse of the pod of orca that are apparently frequent in these waters.

Fortunately, I checked the tide times last night and the tide was going to be out for most of the day with a high tide around 4 pm.

The beach was firm which meant walking was reasonably comfortable. I made quite good peace pace and after about 8 miles stopped for lunch. I took shelter in the sand dunes because I had been walking into a headwind all morning. I was pleased I brought tea with me today as walking along the beach is quite thirsty work.

The first river crossing didn’t come to anything as thankfully it was just a small stream.

There were only a couple of features today. One included the wreckage of a wooden ship. I wondered how long it had been there. The tide was coming in and so it was once again being covered by the water.

The other was the Rattray lighthouse which stands slightly away from the land on a brick pedestal. It looked fabulous today with its white paint contrasting sharply with the blue in the sky. Apparently during World War II an enemy plane circled the lighthouse and dropped three bombs and machine-gunned the lantern but this didn’t seriously impair the lighthouse and no one was injured.

I didn’t see anyone at all along the beach and looked back to see only my set of footprints. I did lament that there should’ve been two sets, mine and Angela’s. I shed a few tears as I really miss her and would’ve loved to have been able to share these memories with her.

I didn’t allow myself very long for lunch because the tide was coming in fast and within a short time the Lighthouse was out at sea. I was worried I might not get around the headland and I still had a river to cross.

The birds on the beach were very noisy and the occasional seal popped their heads up out of the water to watch me.

As I approach the mouth of the river, it was a race against time as the inlet was filling up and widening rapidly with each wave as the tide came in. I needed to quickly find place where I could cross safely. I had come armed with some bin bags to put over my boots as I was reluctant to take off my boots and socks. I didn’t want to get my feet wet because of the protective tape I’m wearing.

Well, what do you know? It was a complete success. I was absolutely buzzing. It felt as though a large weight had been lifted off my shoulders, all my anxiety disappeared and was replaced by a big smile on my face.

I had made it just in time because when I turned around again, the mouth of the river was now impassable without wading up to thigh level.

The tide was coming in fast now and I wondered whether I would get round the next headland. The water was already up to the rocks. I tip toed in and out of the edge across the rocks trying not to get my feet wet. At St Combs I came upon a concrete slipway. I decided to walk up this and onto a grassy track through the dunes.

Eventually this took me up through the golf course at Inverallochy. It was interesting to see the manicured greens of the golf course compared to the beautiful sands I had been walking on. I also came across this happy Buddha which was very large. I rubbed its belly for luck. 

Once I got into Inverallochy the only place I could find to sit down was next to the remembrance memorial. I was quite depleted by the time I arrived there. So I rested, finished my flask of tea and sandwiches and read the names on the memorial, most of whom had served in the navy.

Setting off again my legs were stiff from all the beach walking. The path was a dismantled railway which was a cinder path of quite narrow gauge. This took me through the dunes and then down to the road where I crossed over the third and final river on a bridge. There was still around 5 miles to go.

After crossing the bridge there was a car park and a path back to the beach. This is Bev’s sort of picture.

It’s interesting what you see on a beach. Normally it’s things like jellyfish and fishing ropes and historical remnants from World War II like pillboxes. Well, this one was very different, it could have a look of Donald Trump about it!

I finally arrived in Fraserborough. I walked into town. The spire of Fraserburgh South Church is dominant on the skyline. Built in 1810 in French Gothic style the spire has lancet windows.

I love this example of Scottish baronial style architecture Dalrymple Hall was built in 1881 it’s so OTT.

I dragged my feet for the next couple of miles before arriving at my destination. I finished where I started this morning at McDonald’s and decided to get something to eat before collapsing in my bed. My legs were aching from all that walking along the sand today. I was glad to stretch out and was so tired I couldn’t be bothered to do anything else.