Formartine and Buchan Way walking route completed

Councillor Jill Webster will open the newly-completed walking route. Picture: Comp

The 53 mile route stretches between Aberdeen and Peterhead and Fraserburgh.

The pathway follows the track of the former Formartine and Buchan railway line from Dyce, on the outkirts of Aberdeen, to the village of Maud where it splits into two routes - eastwards to Peterhead and northwards to Fraserburgh.

The Buchan Countryside Group first began opening up the line as a cycleway and pathway in 1987.

A council spokeswoman said: “The completed route will now be used by families and visitors to the area including, walkers, cyclists, horse riders, dog walkers, joggers, runners, and mothers with buggies, families with toddlers, school children, teenagers and adults of all ages.

“Recently Aberdeenshire Council provided funding through its 100 day fund and in the past other organisations such Sustrans, the Sports Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and many more helped to bring it to completion.”

The completed route will be officially opened tomorrow by Councillor Jill Webster, the Provost of Aberdeenshire Council.

Provost Webster said: “This is very much a community resource and it really emphasises that this is a facility for all ages and abilities to enjoy all year round. The eleven different sections will take you to a dozen towns and villages all of which benefited from the railway in its heyday but which now benefit from a leisure pathway on their doorsteps.

“A lot of hard work over many years has gone into creating what is now the Formartine and Buchan Way and I’d like to particularly thank the Buchan Countryside Group who first began opening up the line as a cycleway and pathway in 1987. Their good work has been continued by Aberdeenshire Council and the result is this safe 53-mile long off-road route right through the heart of rural Aberdeenshire.”