Hidden Scotland
Sign in
Tables on the terrace at Harbour Dunes looking over Port Erroll and the bay.
Aberdeenshire

Harbour Dunes Café

A dog-friendly café above Port Erroll harbour, looking over the dunes and the bay.

Visit website
Welcome

Harbour Dunes is a café in Port Erroll, the little fishing harbour at the north end of Cruden Bay, and its view is the whole point: out over the harbour and along the coast, across the dunes and the long curve of the bay.

It only opened in September 2024 and it quickly became popular with walkers, who come in from the beach or back from the cliff path to Slains Castle for a coffee and a scone or a slice of cake. It is dog friendly, which on this walk matters a great deal, and it is an easy place to meet friends and family.

It opens every day of the week from 9am to 4pm, with breakfast served until 11am and hot food through lunch. Sit inside by the window or outside in the sun above the boats. It makes the natural beginning or end to a walk along the sand, or a visit to the roofless ruins of Slains, the castle said to have inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula, a short way north along the cliffs.

A short drive awayBoddam Castle and Stirling HillCliff-tops, a castle ruin on a finger of rock, and the flooded quarries of the red Peterhead granite.9 min by roadSee itThe broken gable of Boddam Castle, a window open to the sky, on its rocky point above the sea.
Before you go

Open every day, 9am to 4pm, with breakfast until 11am.

Dogs welcome.

Hours
Every day, 9 to 4.
Breakfast
Until 11am.

Opening hours

Their website
Monday
9am–4pm
Tuesday
9am–4pm
Wednesday
9am–4pm
Thursday
9am–4pm
Friday
9am–4pm
Saturday
9am–4pm
Sunday
9am–4pm
Where it is

Port Erroll, Cruden Bay.

Close byAround Port Erroll.
  1. A wood-burning stove set into an old stone wall at the Kilmarnock Arms.The Kilmarnock ArmsUnder a mile1 min by road
  2. Ruined castle on a cliff edge above the North Sea coastlineNew Slains CastleUnder a mile1 min by road
  3. Cruden Bay Golf ClubCruden Bay Golf ClubLinks golf through towering dunes above the bay at Cruden Bay, on the Aberdeenshire coast, with Slains Castle on the cliffs beyond.Under a mile3 min by road
  4. Bullers of BuchanBullers of Buchan2 miles5 min by road
  5. Buchan Ness LighthouseBuchan Ness Lighthouse6 miles10 min by road
Directions
The broken gable of Boddam Castle, a window open to the sky, on its rocky point above the sea.WalksBoddam Castle and Stirling Hill5.2 miles
A cell hall in Peterhead Prison, galleries rising to the roof above a table-tennis table.AttractionsPeterhead Prison Museum7.4 miles
Low dunes and a still pool on the Forvie reserve under a wide sky.WalksForvie National Nature Reserve8.1 miles
The bronze of Fisher Jessie with a child at her side on Marischal Street, Peterhead.AttractionsFisher Jessie8.5 miles
Halved croissant on a plate beside a wicker bread basketCafeTrellis10 miles
Seal's head breaking the surface of calm grey waterAttractionsNewburgh Seal Beach11 miles
The Coffee Apothecary's long timber counter in Ellon, a barista at work under pendant lamps.CafeThe Coffee Apothecary Ellon11 miles
A great old yew spreading its branches over the lawn of Ellon Castle Gardens.AttractionsEllon Castle Gardens11 miles
A tall old tree in full summer leaf in the woodland of Aden Country Park.WalksAden Country Park17 miles
Hidden Scotland, the magazine

Scotland, in print.

Every photograph commissioned, every word written by somebody who went. Printed twice a year, made in Scotland.

Get Issue 13Read it here
Find out more

For further reading, before you go.