Findlater Castle

Route: Findochty to Findlater Castle

 

 

Mileage: About 14 miles (circular)

Timing: About 3hrs 40mins

 

Most of this route is flat and unchallenging, with the exception off after you pass Cullen. After you pass the Pet Cemetery, you start to walk along the bottom of the cliff. The path is narrow and some parts are very rocky and in other parts the path has slipped/crumbled away but with care is easily passable. There are a few steep parts but again they are simple to pass with care.An interesting bit of the route takes you down a flight of steps that where build by one man, single-handed, which I find quite amazing.  After completing the shore path you climb up onto the headland, and a short walk over the grass and you reach Findlater Castle. You can come back the same way that you come or you can go back about a quarter of the way and walk up a hill onto the headland. This will lead you along the bottom of a field, then to a farm lane and back into Cullen.

 

 

I have attempted this route three times but only completed it twice. The first time I was walking on this path, I left Findochty too late (1pm, I think), this would be OK to do today but I done this in January and it was dark at 3pm. This made it very dangerous and I ended up having to turn back about 2 miles from the castle and I only just made it back to Cullen before it got too dark to see. Luckily just as I got back to Cullen a bus arrived and I was able to get back to Findochty safely. Something to point out about my first attempt was I was walking on a frozen and snowy path.

The next two times I walked on this route I was successful and completed the route without any issues. I made sure that I started the route in good time so not to have light issues. Funnily the weather conditions was the same as my first attempt.

 

 

I enjoyed this route as it offered some variation in terms of the tracks and I would recommend this route if you want something that is a little more challenging than a flat path. One thing I would point out is that you need to concentrate on the rocky parts as it is easy to miss place your footing causing you to lose your balance.