The Banffshire Coast - The neglected north?
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The local tourist board is calling the Banffshire Coast, the coastal stretch between Pennan in the east to Cullen to the west, “Scotland’s best kept secret” and “Scotland’s treasure”. After my recent trip to the area I think of it more as “The Neglected North”. I say this for two reasons, it is overlooked by visitors in the north east who are more likely to stay on the main inland road between Aberdeen and Inverness or stick the better known Royal Deeside area of Aberdeenshire. Also the area is pretty run down in some parts, predominately Macduff and Banff.
The area has much natural beauty and picturesque fishing villages such as Crovie and Gardenstown. There is a coastal path with some great views stretching along the entire coastline.
Gardenstown from the harbour
The eponymous Banff has traces of a very grand past with fine housing and public buildings dating from the town’s heyday as a herring port during the 19th century. However along the waterfront there are several derelict, boarded up industrial premises. The local council have managed to detract from one of the focal points, the Biggar Fountain, a Victorian drinking fountain, built in 1878. On one side of fountain there is a no entry sign and on the other a large black litter bin. The fountain sits in front of a rather shabby closed down hotel on site of the Tollcross.
The Biggar Fountain
You can pick up a “Historic Walks around Banff” at local tourist offices. The leaflet prepared by the Banff Preservation Society is very detailed.
The harbour in Banff has recently been converted a leisure marina. I noticed that one of the building by the marina had been coverted to flats and a two bedroom flat, was selling for £175,000. I imagine a price well out of the reach of most locals.
Banff Marina
Macduff lies just east of Banff, on the other side of the River Deveron. The Macduff Marine Aquarium focuses on local marine life. Minkie Whales and dolphins are regulary spotted along the coast.
Macduff from the Parish Church
Overall I did enjoy my visit to the area and would recommend it to nature and outdoor lovers. I suppose the relative inaccessibility of the region means that it is unlikely to become a major visitor destination. I reckon with more investment and promotion by local agencies, the area could encourage more visitors.
September 3rd, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Hiya i would just like to say that i lived in banff for 9 months….and i have to say it is the most buetiful place i have ever been….i must agree that it is over looked by tourists….but i think this makes it all the more buetiful as it has been left untouched……i do not agree that it is run-down how-ever lol….places like greater meanchester are run down not banff or macduff that is shown in the picture below that has been labelled as “banff marina”….just thought i would let you know my opinion….amie
September 6th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Thanks for you comment Annie. I agree that it is a bit of a dilemma that if too many tourists do visit a “unspoilt” place it can end up destroying part of the charm of that place. The area around the harbour has been renovated but the area just along from the bridge over the River Deveron is still run down.
October 11th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
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April 5th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
It’s true currently there are some run-down parts in the town of Banff, however the old buildings on the west side of the Deferon bridge are to be demolished and a new TESCO store and a museum built. Heading towards the Banff Harbour another neglected building is soon to be demolished and a new one erected in its place. Several other gap sites in the heart of the town are also soon to be filled with new housing. These new buildings should improve the appearance of the town. Then we have the coastline between Banff and Aberdeen, great stretches of golden beaches, cliffs with seabirds such as gannets, puffins, guillemots, razorbills especially at Troup Head and the Bullers of Buchan, also RSPB sites at Strathbeg and Troup Head. Then we have the charm of the fishing villages Crovie with its single line of houses and no road is unique, Pennan tranquil, and in Inverallochy we can view Maggie’s Hoosie built around 1750 which is open to the public. The corner has also many castles and big estate houses of which I must say many are in ruins, however we have Slains which inspired Bram Stoker to write ‘Dracula’, Fyvie which is one of the finest Baronial castles in all of Scotland, Cairness House which is beyond any doubt one of Scotland’s finest houses. And within these great castles and historic kirkyards you will find an abundance of heraldry, which cannot be found in any other corner of Scotland. The beauty of this corner and the richness of its heritage takes a long time to discover, it is there but many of the special places are not sign-posted and are only known to the locals, it is possible to drivve many miles and not see much without the knowledge of the area. This is a problem for tourists, but hopefully one day the tourist information folk will get it right and open the corner up for all to fully appreciate.
April 5th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Stan, thanks very much for your comment containing a lot of useful tips for visitors to the area. It sounds as though Banff is gradually being regenerated.