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Dark rocks and reef along the shore at Aberdour Beach, the sea beyond.
Aberdeenshire

New Aberdour Beach

A beach below the cliffs down a winding lane, with sea caves, an arch and St Drostan's Well.

Welcome

New Aberdour beach is tucked in below the cliffs on the coast west of Fraserburgh, at the foot of a steep, winding lane.

At the bottom is a shingle and sand bay sheltered from the wind, with open grassland behind and cliffs of sandstone on either side, hollowed into sea caves and cut through by a rock arch.

It is one of the oldest Christian places in the north-east. Tradition says St Drostan, a follower of St Columba, first came ashore here in the late sixth century before travelling inland to bring the faith to Buchan. His well is the white-walled fountain in the middle of the beach.

At the west end is a memorial to Jane Whyte, a local woman who helped rescue the crew of the steamship William Hope when it was wrecked here on 28 October 1886, and was given the RNLI's silver medal for her bravery. Explore the caves on a falling tide, and keep an eye on the water coming back in.

A short drive awayThe Pennan InnThe inn from Local Hero, now an AA Rosette restaurant cooking fish from the local ports.8 min by roadSee itThe whitewashed row of Pennan below the cliffs, the red phone box by the inn.
Before you go

Down a steep, winding lane.

Explore the caves on a falling tide and watch for the water coming back in.

Where
New Aberdour, west of Fraserburgh.
Tides
Check before exploring the caves.
Where it is

New Aberdour.

Close byAround New Aberdour.
  1. PennanPennan4 miles7 min by road
  2. Coastal CuppieCoastal Cuppie4 miles8 min by road
  3. Grassy headlands enclose a small sandy beach with gentle wavesCullykhan BayA small sandy cove west of Pennan below Castle Point, where the site of Fort Fiddes looks over the sea and the blowhole of Hell's Lum.5 miles10 min by road
  4. Narrow rocky gorge with moss-covered floor cutting through grassy hillsideHell’s Lum near Cullykhan Bay5 miles10 min by road
  5. Small boats in Rosehearty harbour at low water, the breakwater behind.Rosehearty HarbourOne of the oldest seaports in Scotland, now a quiet harbour of small boats and rocky shore.6 miles11 min by road
Directions
The whitewashed row of Pennan below the cliffs, the red phone box by the inn.RestaurantsThe Pennan Inn4.2 miles
The ruined walls of Pitsligo Castle standing over a green lawn.AttractionsPitsligo Castle6.2 miles
Gannets nesting on a steep coastal cliff face above the seaAttractionsTroup Head6.7 miles
Row of white cottages beneath a grassy cliff along a pebble shorelineAttractionsCrovie7.8 miles
The orange lifeboat moored in Sandhaven harbour below the village.AttractionsSandhaven Meal Mill7.9 miles
The blue front of Strichen Antiques under its sign.ShoppingStrichen Antiques7.9 miles
Fishing boats moored in Gardenstown harbour beneath white houses on the hillsideAttractionsGardenstown8.8 miles
The grey timber front of Bumble and Brae in Gardenstown, green trim and hanging baskets by the door.CafeBumble and Brae8.9 miles
Afternoon tea on a lace cloth in the Nooks & Crannies courtyard.CafeNooks & Crannies9.0 miles
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