This document provides information about coastal villages along the northeast coast of Scotland, from Pennan to Cullen. It summarizes details about each village, including their founding dates, populations, notable landmarks, industries like fishing, and how some were impacted by natural disasters like storms. Pennan is described as the most famous village, located along coastal cliffs, with its red phone booth becoming a tourist attraction after being featured in the film Local Hero. Crovie and Gardenstown are connected by a coastal path popular for dolphin watching. Gardenstown became home to many refugees after Crovie was destroyed in the 1953 North Sea flood. Further west, Macduff is depicted as a fishing and cargo port with landmarks like its lighthouse and pub.

1. Coastal
Villages of
Northeast
Scotland
From Pennan and Crovie to Cullen
In the Aberdeenshire council
area, there is a stretch of coast
with several fishing villages and
small ports - the Coastal Trail.

2. In 2002 I have visited (from right to left) Pennan, Crovie, Gardenstown,
Macduff and Cullen.

4. Road to Pennan

5. Pennan
57° 41' N

6. The most famous and quintessential of the cliff villages, Pennan
lies in a narrow strip of land at te bottom of a coastal cliff.

7. The steep road downwards offers panoramic views.

8. There is space for one only road; the houses are lined up along,
most built gable-end to the sea.

9. The first harbour in Pennan, at the East end of the village, dates back to
1704. The current structure was built in 1845 but a wild storm destroyed
the West pier. A new pier was then built in 1903.

11. After the tragic North Sea Flood, a huge storm in 1953, most of the
houses were abandonned; they were later restored for summer
residences.

12. The best known local “attraction” is this red phone boot; but it is quite recent; in
fact it was placed there in 1989, after the success of Local Hero, because visitors
used to ask for it - as it played a particular role in the story.

16. In 1953, Pennan was severely destroyed by violent waves
and winds during the North Sea Flood. The residents flew
mostly to the neighbouring Gardenstown.

18. But Pennan indeed fascinates during storms when waves crash onto the pebble beach.

19. A shot from Local Hero

21. The Pennan Inn also featured in the film. Visitors also come for
dolphin watching, as they often show on this coast.

22. Crovie lays few miles to the west; and is still more surprising !

23. Crovie
57° 40' N

24. Crovie was founded in a time when no roads existed in the region; the sea was
the only way of communication and transport. Small harbours had to be built in
the best shelterd bays possible.

37. Crovie also has its phone boot
- behind the pier house above.

41. Crovie
Gardenstown
The two villages are connected by a coastal path, a pretty
seaside walk in good weather - usually, dolphins can be
watched.

42. Gardenstown
57º 40’ N
Population ~600

44. Also known as ‘Gamrie’, the town was founded in 1720; together with Crovie,
some 250 fishermen and families lived here until the 1940s.
Most of the refugees from Crovie’s 1953 disaster came to Gardenstown.

45. If not the most authentic, Gardenstown is the liveliest and most developped
of the three cliff villages, with basic services and amenities.

46. The four-storey, 19th century stone warehouse by the
harbour is now the Heritage Centre.

48. Harbour cafe
The Harbour Café overlooks the jetties.
Fish and chips with a view, maybe ?

52. The incoming population forced the village to grow upwards on the cliff
slope, up to the top.

54. MacDuff
57º 40’ N
Just a picturesque harbour

56. Macduff is a fishing as well as a cargo port.

57. Shore Street runs along the waterfront

58. The Reliance is a trawler operating in Macduff.

59. The Old Moray on Shore Street - where all things happen.

60. Macduff’s lighthouse is a cult feature, mainly by photographers.

62. Cullen
57° 41' 30’’ N
Population > 1300

63. Situated in the Moray council, Cullen was founded as a town between 1153 and
1214 but it was already known since the 1st century AD. In the last century Cullen
grew as a fishing harbour and gained a railway connection.

64. The archs of the railway viaduct set for a unique urban panorama.

67. Church Street, Cullen

69. This presentation ©Mário Ricca, 2019
Sources:
VisitScotland
Panoramio
Flickr
Skyscrapercity