Monthooly to New Aberdour Shore

The old road from Peathill to New Aberdour roller coasts along parallel to the coast, at times between banks and gorse covered dykes, at others open and giving spectacular views down to the shore and out towards Troup Head to the west and Rosehearty to the east.  Grey Granite has known and loved this quiet back road for well over half a century. Our walk was accompanied by lark song until we left the road for the shore when oyster catchers took over. There were snowdrops in places at the roadside, almost going over now to be replaced by occasional daffodils, red dead nettle, chickweed and wavy bitter cress.  



A fine day for ploughing.

Dundarg Castle, a Gothic gatehouse, built in 1935, largely  with stones from the Free Church of New Aberdour. The ruins of an Iron Age promontory fort and later small Celtic monastery which eventually became a Comyn Castle are just visible on the headland between the 'castle' and the tractor. The most conspicuous being the remains of a 16th century gatehouse. The Edward Bonaventure, carrying the Russian Ambassador and assorted treasures, is supposed to have sunk in the vicinity of Dundarg in 1556.





Today the Broad Shore was completely deserted. we reached it by cutting down an almost forgotten path and climbing over a broken style to the cliffs above the Boat Shore. There were starry celandines fully open in the sunshine at the top of the cliff, closed up in the shade lower down.

St Drostan's Well, currently slightly squalid the well was built in 1884 and is said to be on the spot where St Drostan landed around 575. Later strangers arriving on the shore included German spies who were put ashore here from a submarine in  a rubber dinghy in 1942. Subsequently they were arrested whilst cycling along the Banff road on conspicuously shiny red bicycles. The William hope from Dundee was shipwrecked here in October 1884, the crew was rescued due to the heroic efforts of Jane Whyte. A  memorial to Jane is at the west end of the shore, fixed to thre ruins of the old walkmill beyond  burn.

St Drostan's Kirk. The oldest part of the kirk, dates from the early 16th century and was in use until 1818.The south aisle is still roofed, on the right (east) is the burial aisle of the Lesleys of Coburty

The nave has been used for burials despite the edict of the Reformation forbidding burials in church buildings.

The chancel is now the burial aisle of the Bairds of Auchmedden. William Baird, laird of Auchmedden was an officer in the Prince's bodyguard at Culloden, his forfeited estate passed to Lord Huntly. A prophecy of Thomas the Rhymer predicted that 'Whilst are eagles on the crag there will be Bairds at Auchmedden'. The eagles which had nested on the cliffs at Pennan for centuries are said to have disappeared when  the estate passed out of Baird ownership. The Baird motto, 'Dominus Fecit' (The Lord Made) appears at the top of the plaque. The Bairds are one of several clans who claim to have saved their monarch, in this case William the Lion, from a rampaging beast.

Now resting on a ledge on the east wall of the church, this octagonal stone font is thought to have been brought from Chapelden to have once contained the relics of St Drostan. The bones had magical powers and by touching the urn it was thought that the afflicted faithful would be miraculously cured.

The old manse, for many years The Beach House Hotel with the kirk beyond, seen from the old Penny Schoolie.