*Dons Scottish tour guide cap, yet again* Let’s wander along the River Philorth.

There’s a small nature reserve there, created by the dunes, which in turn were inadvertently created by man during WW2. Large coils of barbed wire and concrete blocks were laid along the coastline to deter enemy invaders. Sand built up on them, plants grew, and the river changed course.

Wildlife flourishes at Philorth today. There’s a rather nice PDF about it here.

A gull fishing

I love the tall grasses.

The scenery grows more and more beach-like as you progress along the riverside path.

washed up fishing net

limpet

We reach the sea, Fraserburgh in the distance…

…and return by the higher dune path:

Exiting onto the main road, you just catch a glimpse of Cairnbulg Castle through the trees (read about it on the website of Lady Saltoun, Chief of the name and arms of Fraser.)