Beach, woodland and coastal path walks aplenty at Portsoy

Take the lead and bring your canine companions for plenty of dog-friendly fun on the Banffshire coast.

Dogs are welcome to stay at The Sail Loft self catering accommodation and Portsoy Links Caravan Park, and you’re sure to have plenty of great dog days out in and around Portsoy.

You’ll find copies of Portsoy Walking and Cycling Leaflet freely available in both the Sail Loft reception and Portsoy Links Caravan Park site office. You can also download it here

Here’s some further recommendations from our dog owning friends.

Wendy Bennett

My Japanese Spitz Millie and Mollie love the many paths and walks around Portsoy. One of our favourites is the Old Coastguard’s Path and East Head which is ideal for anyone staying at the Sail Loft, or Portsoy Links Caravan Park as it’s right on the doorstep. The views across the bay are wonderful.

The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival is a dog-friendly event with water stations for dogs. It takes place over one weekend in the summer and can be quite busy but if your pet enjoys being around people, they are sure to have a great day out.

Natalie Smith

We have two Border Collies, Sally and Oscar, and have a few favourite walks for letting dogs off-lead that are just a short drive from Portsoy.

Bin Hill at Huntly https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/the-bin offers three walking routes of different lengths and challenges. The four mile one is normally quiet so you won’t meet a lot of people.

Delgaty Woods at Turriff are worth exploring https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/delgaty-wood

Meanwhile Bennachie https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/bennachie-visitor-centre is a steep climb up but has a lovely path to walk round the top of hill and the views are amazing.

Richard Thorne

I live in Cullen where there is there is no shortage of good doggie walks close by. However, being the owner of Archie, a very friendly and full-on Working Cocker Spaniel, I do need to be careful of busy places.

During the spring and summer, we tend to avoid Cullen’s beach during the day as Archie just wants to meet and play with every dog he sees, and not every dog wants to play back. So, we tend to head for the quieter areas. Our best walks are:

Crannoch Wood, which lies just outside Cullen on the Portsoy side is a great walk, not too long, or too busy where Archie can run and sniff to his hearts delight, and we don’t upset too many other dogs and their owners. The walk is quite hilly, and there is a lochan at the top which can be a bit muddy around the edges. It’s mainly woodland and has the most fantastic views over Cullen once you reach the top of the hill. The walk back to the car, or home is along a quiet grassy track which always seems to be sheltered.

Castle Hill and the old railway towards Portknockie returning via Cullen Beach. This walk is quite long but has great views and is always interesting. Start at the square in Cullen and head out along Grant Street past the Co-op and head down North Deskford Street where you can pick up the old railway viaduct. Once on the viaduct turn left and follow this path all the way almost to Portknockie where you will see an old bridge. Take the path on the right just before the bridge and turn right. In a short while you’ll see a path leading you down to the golf course. Cross the golf course and you’re on the beach, at the beach end, go through the car parks and cross the blue bridge. Follow the path by the sea wall to the harbour then walk up the hill back into Cullen. This walk enables your four footed friend plenty of time off the lead and should wear them out.

The final walk is at Bauds Wood. The car park is on the left side of the road as you drive from Cullen to Buckie, and is quite well hidden. It’s just past Pals Garden Centre on the left and is just visible between two white posts by the roadside. There is broad selection of walks from here and it’s a good access point for the Bin of Cullen hill. This is a great place to explore and there are many interlinking walks which are ideal for dogs. Be aware that in the spring and summer sheep are in the fields, and I’ve seen a couple of deer and badgers, so take care with your more adventurous dogs.