Arbroath Cliffs – Red Sandstone Arches Above the North Sea
About 2.1 miles on foot.
East of Arbroath the coast turns to red sandstone, and the sea has cut it into arches, caves and a stack called the Deil's Heid, the Devil's Head.
A tarmac path climbs from the end of the promenade at Victoria Park and runs along the clifftop above them, with fields on one side and the North Sea on the other. It's just over a mile each way. Further north a section of the clifftop path is closed, so this walk turns at the Deil's Heid.
- Time
- About an hour and a half: just over a mile each way from the car park to the Deil's Heid, measured on the map, with time to look.
- The path
- A tarmac path that climbs from the promenade and then levels out along the clifftop, close to the edge in places.
- Where to start
- The car park at the far end of the promenade at Victoria Park, Arbroath, DD11 5TB, beside the public toilets.
- When to go
- All year in daylight, but not in a strong wind or on ice. The northern section of the clifftop path, beyond this walk, is closed. Seabirds are on the cliffs from May to July.
- Dogs
- Welcome. Keep a dog on a lead: the path runs close to the cliff edge.
- Children
- The path runs close to the edge of high cliffs in places: keep children close.
- Before you set out
- The Scottish Wildlife Trust has closed the northern section of the clifftop path, with a signed diversion down steps to Carlingheugh Bay. The path from Victoria Park to the Deil's Heid is south of the closure. The cliff edges are unstable: stay on the path.
The walk
Park at the far end of the promenade at Victoria Park, on the east side of Arbroath, beside the public toilets. DD11 5TB is the postcode. A tarmac path climbs from here onto Seaton Cliffs, a Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve, then levels out along the top with fields on one side and the sea on the other. The rock is red sandstone, and the sea has worked at every crack in it. The Needle E'e, the needle's eye, is an arch with daylight showing through it.
Dickmont's Den is a long cleft left where the roof of a cave fell in. The Deil's Heid is a stack that stands on its own off the cliff. It's just over a mile from the car park, measured on the map, and it's the place to turn back. Allow an hour and a half there and back, with time to look. Seabirds nest on the cliffs from May to July, and dolphins are often seen offshore at any time of year.
The path runs close to the edge in places and the Trust warns that the cliff edges are unstable, so stay on the path, keep children close and keep a dog on a lead. Leave the walk for another day in a strong wind or on ice. Further north the Trust has closed a section of the clifftop path. A signed diversion goes down steps to the pebble beach at Carlingheugh Bay and up again at its far side. That is rougher ground and isn't part of this walk.
If it rains
There's no shelter on the clifftop and the path is slippery when wet. In heavy rain or a gale, stay down on the promenade.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
For further reading, before you go.