More than a quarter of a decade after work first began on a long-distance Scottish walking route, the last piece of the access jigsaw piece has been put in place. This week, the Formartine and Buchan Way was finally completed and now offers a total of 54 miles of walking and cycling between Aberdeen and Peterhead and Fraserburgh. It was in 1987 that the Buchan Countryside Group first began opening up the line as a pathway and cycleway. Thanks to help from organisations such as Sustrans, the Sports Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, among many others, the walking route was made formally accessible to both walkers and cyclists. Then, earlier this year, Aberdeenshire Council provided funding through its 100 day fund to help complete the route. The missing 5.5-mile section from Maud to Strichen was formalised – with the route now easily accessible to all in its entirety. Earlier this week, the completed Formartine and Buchan Way was officially opened by Councillor Jill Webster, the Provost of Aberdeenshire Council.

What is the Formartine and Buchan Way?

The pathway follows the track of the former Formartine and Buchan railway line from Dyce, on the outkirts of Aberdeen, and continues some 25 miles to the village of Maud where it splits into two routes and heads eastwards to Peterhead and northwards to Fraserburgh. If walkers head north for 15 miles the route goes to Fraserburgh, or to the east for around 13 miles takes you to Peterhead. Most people take five to eight days to complete the route on foot. The route passes by a host of fascinating attractions, such as Aden Country Park, Drinnies Wood Observatory, Strichen Stone Circle and Deer Abbey.

Top 20 Great Scottish Trail

This popular walking and cycling route has also been named one of Scotland's great trails. It was named one of the  top 20 historical walking routes by Scotland's Great Trails. (Scotland's Great Trails are all existing paths that are continuous, clearly identifiable and appropriately waymarked.)

Five more top Scottish routes to walk

West Highland Way

Great Glen Way

Southern Upland Way

St Cuthbert’s Way

The Kintyre Way