Log No 35. Sat 4th May 2013 - Rosehearty to near Macduff, 18 miles (591 miles walked)

The tent was blowing about quite a bit through the night, mainly because the wind had swung to the west so I lost most of the shelter.

The rain had stopped by 06.00, the time I decided to get my breakfast of 3 cereal bars. Half an hour later it started again so I snuggled back up in my sleeping bag.

An hour later it had stopped and the tent was almost dry when I packed it up and I set off at 08.30 in some sunshine.

The footpath had pretty much run out by the time I got to the car park at the bay near New Aberdour where I had a short break.

I had to climb up gorse filled slopes to get up onto the top and as the gorse was generally right up to the fence I had to walk in the fields which had cattle in.

I was constantly looking for quick escape routes over the fence in case the cattle became too inquisitive, fortunately they didn't seem to bothered.

There were 2 streams cutting through the cliffs, the first didn't present much of a problem and I had a pleasant break after that climb, sat in the sun looking back to Rosehearty.

The second stream was a different story and I had two steep climbs to make to get past it.

There was a bit of a detour coming off Pennan Head as the slope was too steep & gorse filled, I followed the top of the gorse round and eventually picked up a footpath which took me into Pennan Village.

Pennan was the location for 'Whisky Galore', I think it was, anyway the red phone box is still there and tourists are always in it having their photo taken. (it has been pointed out to me that the film was 'Local Hero')

I couldn't see an easy way back up onto the top so I took to the road for a short while to where I thought I could get access near Cullykhan Bay.

When I got there I took one look at the climb and not seeing an alternative went back onto the road.

My strip maps didn't show the road I was walking on so I waited for an obvious route back to the coast and when I saw a sign for Crovie (pronounced Crivie) I took that road.

I got to the viewpoint above Crovie at 13.30 and I had another short break.

After going down the steep road into Crovie I went on a concrete path that runs part way along the base of the cliff then it was a walk over some rock and shingle to get to Gardenstoun.



As I came to the shore front I came to the 'New Ground Galley', an Arts & Crafts and Tea Room, a sign in the window said 'Come in and get a cuppa', I didn't need a second invitation.

I ordered a Tea and a Scone & Jam, and I was able to put my phone on charge.

When the ladies saw my t-shirt they said it was on the house, one of their husbands, Brian, has suffered from Parkinson's for the last 15 years and he came in a short while later for a chat.

I was asking about campsites and when one of the ladies leaned over my shoulder to look at the map I said it probably wasn't a good idea to get too close to me (the last time I had any water to wash in was Wednesday morning and I had been wearing the same clothes since Monday). After a couple of minutes she said 'You don't honk at all', that's the nicest thing anyone has said to me for a while!!

I was aiming for the campsite shown on the map at Banff, looking ahead at the gorse slopes I opted to take the road.

It was a good decision, a couple of miles before I got to Macduff I came across a real live campsite. I couldn't pass up an opportunity like this so I stopped short of my intended destination after only doing 18 miles.

I now feel like a new man after a long shower and a shave, I am even treating my feet to a clean pair of socks tomorrow but I'll 'stick' to the same t-shirt.