
The search for Aberdeenshire shipwrecks begins by walking barefoot along the sands between St Combs and Scotstown. There are many wrecks to be seen here.
Aye, aye, me hearties! Prepare yersels for the photos…
Aberdeenshire Shipwrecks

I don’t know the name or date of this first wreck. It’s wooden and relatively small and sometimes entirely covered by the shifting sands that it, no doubt, fell victim to. It’s well bedecked with seaweed.

Close by is a large metallic boat. It’s usually more submerged than this. I *think* it’s the HMS Erne. She ran aground in 1915 and broke her back.

We get to go right up to it.
Barnacles

And touch the barnacles.

And wonder if that’s a treasure chest…
The Excelsior of Laurwig
A bit further on, between Rattray Head and Scotstown, lies a much more well documented ship: the Excelsior of Laurwig, a Norwegian barque that was wrecked in 1881. It’s one of the most impressive Aberdeenshire shipwrecks.



Not a Shipwreck
There is another, somewhat different, wreck on this bit of coastline, sometimes to be seen wedged into the sand:

Cruden Bay
Now, let’s head to Cruden Bay and see if we can find any more shipwrecks.

Trip, trap, trip. trap, across the bridge. To find…

Is it a wreck? I’m not sure. It may be part of a defense from WW2. It’s not very boat-shaped…
But it’s a great beach on which to finish our walk.

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Kidnapping, Slavery and Friendship

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The ship wreck adds character to the beach and a talking point. Reminds me of one we saw on the Sunshine Coast in Australia.
I love finding them.
Lovely lovely lovely, as usual!
Thank you!
Fabulous photos!
What an interesting walk. I enjoyed it very much. Your photos are lovely.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the walk 🙂
This beach looks amazing
The golden beaches down the East side of our coast are wonderful.
Beautiful photos. Love the light contrasts and colors. So many mysteries with sunken old ships, cars…
There are a LOT of wrecks down that that part of the coast, maybe partly due to the changing sands.
Great post
Sharing every texture… thank you.
You live in such a picturesque place. 🙂
There is a lot of beauty around 🙂
Sorry to be so late getting to this, but I do have a question, since you mention so many wrecks. Is there a history or tradition of “wreckers” on that part of the Scottish coast, people who would go out at night and use lights to trick ships into coming too close to shore so they would be wrecked, and the locals going aboard to loot the ships? There were such people in Cornwall and the barrier islands in North Carolina.
I have not heard of deliberate luring, though some wrecks were looted.
Oh my god…..those pictures look so beautiful, especially the beaches!!
I’m glad you like them!
Stunning perspectives and captures of light
Glad you like 🙂
Those wrecks look like they’re swimming up from another world!
They do!
I live quite a distance from the sea so I am very jealous you get to wander down to look at different ship wrecks. It must be fascinating!
It is, though rather sad too, thinking of the trauma that led to them being there.
I love these photographs and those books look fascinating!
I’m glad you like them 🙂
Beautiful.
Great photographs!
Thanks!
Such a gift for finding the beauty in it. — said of the photos of shipwrecks — and said of “Tendu”
Thank you so much, Julie 🙂
Gorgeous photos! Feel I’ve been at sea.
Oh, I’m glad the post had that effect 🙂
There is nothing quite so enticing as sand and sea. Thank you.
Agreed.
Excellent photography. Beautiful very old boat. It’s wooden boat. Beautiful all photos. Nice you share your walk on sea & Sand.
I’m glad you liked it 🙂
Thanks
Such wide beaches
We are lucky with those here.
a far cry from Crown Heights Brooklyn
I guess so 🙂