DAY 14
WEDNESDAY 9TH APRIL, 2008
ARBROATH TO MONTROSE
19.2 MILES, 7 HOURS
MORRIS AND BILLY
With a long walk ahead we made an early start travelling by train from Edinburgh to Arbroath. On arrival it was raining heavy enough to merit waterproofs. We made our way from the station to the harbour and walked along the sea front to the car park where we found the clearly marked Seaton cliffs path. We followed the path past Carlingheugh and Castlesea Bays to Auchmithie. On route we met and stopped for a chat with two locals George and Lily (George plays the role of Sir Alex Seton in the annual town pageant) who identified some of the coastal landmarks to us. On the outskirts of Auchmithie there is a row of cottages from where the road into the village heads inland. We chose to walk round the edge of the field behind the cottages passing the Millennium Cairn and into the village. We were unable continue on the clifftops and had to leave the village on the minor road towards Seafield and then Rumness from where we crossed a field back to the clifftops. Although there was at times some evidence of a path we found ourselves for long stretches walking at the edge of muddy, freshly ploughed fields. Continuing along the clifftops we walked past the hamlet of Ethie Haven and onto the spectacular sands at Lunan Bay where we stopped for a much needed cup of tea. On resuming along the sands our progress was briefly stopped where the Lunan Water enters the sea. Boots and socks off we paddled through the calf deep, ice cold water and carried on. At the end of the beach we could see no obvious way back to the Clifftops. Eventually we made our way under the railway bridge and across a field back as close as we could to the sea. Again we walked at the edge of fields to Boddin Point, past the cemetery at Todd’s Hole to Usan. No obvious route or path was evident from Usan so we walked on the minor access road past Usan House to Mains of Usan and round the point past the lighthouse at Scurdie Ness. We walked via the lighthouse access road and A92 into Montrose where after a well deserved refreshment we caught a train back to Edinburgh.
Summary;. Slightly undulating with varying, sometimes difficult underfoot conditions. Map required.
Highs; Some spectacular cliff top views and Lunan Bay.
Lows; None, just have to accept our Scottish weather.