Collieston

Aberdeenshire | Village | ★★

[Collieston]

Surrounded by rough cliffs and unpredictable shifting sands, Collieston was established as a fishing village in the 15th century as one of the few safe harbours for miles around. After a successful centuries, fishing declined as business moved to Peterhead, leaving a peaceful village well worth looking around - mainly for the attractive location and coastal views. Walk south from here and you'll enter Forvie National Nature Reserve, with a sizeable seal colony at the southern end. This vast expanse of dune systems engulfed an entire village in the 1600s; only the church remains visible, long ruined and half submerged by the sand.

[Hackley Bay, Forvie NNR (15/1/12)]

Location & info

📌 Collieston ★★
Aberdeenshire, G.R.: NK 041286 ///nests.dairy.centrally

🚶 Collieston is the best village from which to access Forvie NNR on foot, and there are good (rough) coastal walks.
❌ Unfortunately there doesn't appear to be a public transport connection. Taxi from Newburgh or Ellon, perhaps?



See & do (<1 mi away)

>> Walk: Drowned by dunes at Forvie NNR ★★★

Nearby (1-5 mi away)

>> Ythan Estuary page: Waulkmill Hide ★★ (2 mi ←); Ythan Seal Colony ★★★★ (3 mi ↓)
>> Whinnyfold beach ★★★ (4 mi ↑)

[Ythan Seal Colony (20/2/12)]

[Dunes at Forvie NNR (6/1/13)]

[View from Waulkmill Hide at sunset (15/1/12)]