Please see below the details of the group’s next walk. Please contact Maureen, on 07876690145 if you would like to attend.
St Combs to Rattray Head
Sunday 10 August 2025
Meeting time: 9:30 am
Start time: 10:00 am
Estimated finish time: 3:00 pm
Difficulty: Leisurely
Distance: 11.3km / 7.0mi
Ascent: 61m / 200ft
Type: linear
Meeting, starting and finishing points
Meeting and finishing point - Old Rattray Cemetery car park, Grid reference: NK 08517 57566, Nearest postcode: AB42 3HA, what3words: udder.daylight.buggy
Starting point - St Combs Community Hall car park, Corsekelly Place, Grid reference: NK 05645 63007, Nearest postcode: AB43 8ZS, what3words: mourner.goals.meanings. OS Landranger Map 30 Peterhead & Ellon.
Overview
This is a repeat of a walk that was in the last programme.
We will meet at Old Rattray Cemetery car park, leave some cars there, and then drive everyone to the start of the walk at the St Combs Community Hall parking area. We will walk from there to visit the cemetery. Next to the cemetery we take a grassy track which heads downhill to join another track, then continues straight ahead behind the dunes with access to the beach. Unless there is a very high tide, we head onto the sand and continue walking south. A gap in the dunes is reached where the outflow from the Loch of Strathbeg reaches the sea. Here we head inland around the edge of the lagoon - a great habitat for wading birds. We continue crossing a footbridge over a drainage canal and then another larger bridge, across the main outflow of the Loch of Strathbeg. On the far side we turn left back downstream towards the beach. When the flat grassy area is reached we bear right (south), following the bottom of the sandy bank. We follow faint grassy tracks, sometimes a little wet underfoot, for almost a kilometre and then enter the dunes, following faint tracks until it is possible to safely gain access back down onto the beach. We now continue along the beach. The lighthouse at Rattray Head is out of sight and a kilometre passes below the dunes before the corner is rounded and the lighthouse is seen again. When almost level with the lighthouse there is a gap in the dunes on the right where a sandy route heads inland. This becomes a track and passes the former lightkeepers cottages. The walk continues along the track to Old Rattray cemetery where some cars will have been left. There will be an opportunity to visit the cemetery and the St Mary's Chapel ruins. We will then return to St. Combs to pick up the remaining cars.
This walk is on beaches, dunes and rough grassland with uneven surfaces. Although graded leisurely the walking can be challenging at times because of the terrain.
Booking
Booking is essential. Please contact the walk leader either by phoning or texting Maureen Corley on 07876690145 to book your place on the walk, or if you have any questions, by the Thursday evening prior to the walk. Confirmation of your booking is required for attendance. It is essential for the walk leader to know who is coming on the walk and to be able to contact people should there be any changes. Please remember to contact the walk leader if you are no longer able to attend.
Additional Details
Good walking boots, and warm waterproofs essential. Bring food and drink. Walking poles, if required.
Parking – Old Rattray Cemetery car Park / St. Combs Community Hall car park.
Toilets - There are no public toilets in St. Combs or Rattray. The nearest public toilets are in the centre of Peterhead.
Also check out other Meetups in Aberdeen.
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