Nothing characterises the image of Scotland more than the wild expanse of the Highlands. The west coast with its offshore archipelagos of the Inner and Outer Hebrides is part of this - and at the same time one of the most challenging areas in Europe. A dream destination? Certainly for the adventurous. And yet its waters remain inaccessible even to most of these skippers. Scotland also has another side, which may not be quite as spectacular, but is much friendlier: as a holiday destination, the North Sea coast between Edinburgh in the south and the Moray Firth with Inverness in the north is hardly known in this country. Yet this "corner" of Great Britain not only has plenty of different destinations to offer - from relaxed holiday resorts such as Lossiemouth to the surprisingly colourful and young port city of Aberdeen - but is also much closer. And by the way: once you arrive in Inverness, you also have the Highlands right on your doorstep ...
1st Cullen Bay / Buckie
Legend has it that three kings are buried under the three rock towers on the beach of Cullen Bay - hence its name: Three Kings. The small fishing village in the east of the bay lies partly on the cliffs of the steep coast and partly directly on the harbour, which is almost completely dry. Those wishing to visit the Kings will find better guest berths and services in neighbouring Buckie. Registration at the harbour office via VHF radio (channel 16, working channel 12) and telephone (tel. +44-1542-83 17 00). www.moray.gov.uk > Roads and Transport > Harbours
2. arbroath
Tourism and fishing are combined in a very tasty way here - from fish and chips to the local Arbroath smokey. The recipe for this smoked cod is said to have originated when a warehouse full of fish caught fire and could only just be extinguished ... You can try it at the Harbourside Grill ( www.harboursidegrill.co.uk ). Sights include the imposing ruins of the medieval Benedictine abbey and the old signalling station for the Bell Rock lighthouse off the coast. Good moorings on floating jetties in the inner harbour with lock gate (registration: UKW 16/11, tel. +44-1241-87 21 66). www.angus.gov.uk > Visitors and Tourism
3rd Banff
The most beautiful view over Banff Bay is from the castle. Situated on a hill, it may not be much more than a magnificent house today, but it is surrounded by parkland. Here, the Kelpie Café serves scones and tea with a panorama that stretches across the mouth of the River Deveron to the neighbouring village of Macduff. Incidentally, anyone who learned to love Scotland through the film "Local Hero" (1983) can visit the fishing village of Pennan, ten kilometres away. Most of the exterior shots were filmed there. Guests can stay in the well-protected Banff Harbour Marina. (Registration: VHF 12, tel. +44-1261-81 55 44). banffmarina.com
4th Nairn
A beautiful sandy beach stretches along the south coast of the Moray Firth for kilometres on either side of Nairn harbour; the beach and fresh sea air made the town a popular spa resort in the days of Queen Victoria. Today, however, it is no longer just beautiful nature that attracts visitors. Culture and typical Scottish entertainment are also on offer - with traditional markets, a literature and art festival, concerts ranging from folk to jazz and, of course, the Highland Games in August ( visitnairn.com ). Moorings: While the narrow mouth of the River Nairn dries out, the harbour basin behind it always has water. (Tel. +44-1667-45 60 08). www.highland.gov.uk/info > Transport and Streets > Harbours
5 Aberdeen
Like its twin city Stavanger in Norway, Aberdeen has long lived off North Sea oil - and the associated reputation of being a grey industrial city. The end of the "black gold" is now in sight - but instead, wind is being "extracted" on the open sea. In the same way, the metropolis of 200,000 inhabitants has changed its own image: It is colourful and youthful. The universities and parks as well as the clubs and pubs in the side streets of Union Street ensure this. Craft beer is on the rise: The brewery "Brew Dog", which is also well-known in this country, comes from the area ( www.visitabdn.com ). Unfortunately, Aberdeen does not yet have a marina, but guests can ask for berths in the industrial harbour in advance. Permission to enter the harbour must be obtained: VTS Aberdeen (VHF 12, tel. +44-1224-59 70 00). www.aberdeen-harbour.uk
6th Lossiemouth
At the northernmost point of the Moray Coast, the pretty holiday resort of Lossiemouth juts out into the North Sea on a hill of yellow sandstone. This is also where the River Lossie flows into the sea, separated from the sea by a wide belt of dunes and the fine sand of East Beach. The beach and harbour are connected by a bridge, and cafés and pubs are located on the waterfront along Clifton Road. Lossiemouth Marina (UKW 12, tel. +44-1343-81 30 66) offers a full range of services for guests. www.lossiemouthmarina.com
7. Inverness / Caledonian Canal
The Great Glen runs through the north of Scotland in a straight line from the Atlantic to the North Sea. The two coasts are connected by the Caledonian Canal, which is almost one hundred kilometres long and crosses three large lochs, including the legendary Loch Ness. Inverness is therefore not only the gateway to the Highlands by land, but also by sea. The tourism industry in the regional capital of 50,000 inhabitants at the inner end of the Moray Firth is correspondingly lively. Guests wishing to stay on the North Sea call at the well-equipped Inverness Marina south-west of Kessock Bridge (VHF 12, tel. +44-1463-22 05 01, www.invernessmarina.com ). There are guest jetties in the canal below the Muirtown locks ( www.scottishcanals.co.uk ).
8 Peterhead
Fishing plays an important role in the country, even though the industry has seen better times. Peterhead bears witness to this development. The town, framed by steep cliffs, is still one of the most important bases of the British fishing industry. For offshore supply, Peterhead Bay has also been transformed into a natural harbour with breakwaters. The jetties of Peterhead Bay Marina are also located here. Booking required before entering the bay: UKW 14, tel. +44-1779-45 57 15, www.peterheadport.co.uk > Port Areas
Precinct information
Overview
The central part of the Scottish North Sea coast is described, which (from the south) belongs to the administrative regions of Angus, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland. The coastline is around 300 kilometres long, with alternating cliffs and shallow bays. The beaches increase in the area of the Moray Firth. Inland, the land rises gradually towards the mountains of the extensive Cairngorms National Park. The offshore sea area is called "Cromarty" (after the Cromarty Firth) and joins the "Forties" in the east, which make up a large part of the north-western North Sea.
Navigation
There are hardly any navigational obstacles off the coast in this section, the only island is the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth, Bell Rock at the mouth of the Tay is the only rock. Both are marked with beacons, as are most of the headlands. When approaching the coast, however, attention must be paid to dry areas and water depths in general, especially at low water levels. This is especially true in the area of river mouths. Not all harbours can be approached at all water levels; prior notification is usual and often required. Up-to-date charts, precise trip planning taking into account the current and tidal conditions and accurate, up-to-date weather information are essential. The official British marine weather report with warnings is regularly published on the Internet by the Met Office: www.metoffice.gov.uk > Specialist forecasts > Coast and Sea > Shipping forecast and gale warnings
Nautical literature
Territory guide"Reeds Eastern Almanac 2019" with the British coast from Ramsgate in the south to Cape Wrath in the north, with Orkneys and Shetland (see above). Manual with information on law, sailing area, approaches, harbours, tides and weather. English language, 272 pages, format: 19.4 x 26.3 cm, spiral binding, ISBN 978-1-47295-753-5, price: 39.90 euros. Order: nvcharts.com
Sport boat charts: Official British pleasure craft chart set SC5617: "Scotland, East Coast: Fife Ness to Inverness and the Caledonian Canal". Format: A2, Edition: 2012, ISBN 978-0-70778-085-6, Price: approx. 50 Euro. How to obtain: www.hansenautic.de
Distances (in nautical miles)
- Den Helder - Aberdeen: 340 nm
- Cuxhaven - Aberdeen: 410 nm
- Thyborøn - Aberdeen: 335 nm
- Aberdeen - Edinburgh: 90 nm
- Aberdeen - Peterhead: 27 nm
- Peterhead - Inverness: 95 nm
