Just a taste of the Formartine & Buchan Way.......

After some 'complicated' consulting of maps and timetables a plan was hatched.  Louise would get the train to Aberdeen and I would catch the bus. Simples!

The bus was late and then even later at Aboyne where the school children alighted.....I did notice that the driver 'growled' at them as they got on and demanded their bus passes with more growling....I was glad I was just a pensioner with a bus pass!

The weather looked kindly and the heather was blooming purple on Dinnet Muir - could be a good day. The jiggling of the bus did make my shoulder and arm ache a bit but I am determined this injury will get better so I just ignored it......

At last I arrived at the bus station in Aberdeen and spotted Louise waiting patiently on a bench for me - a hug later we were boarding a bus for Ellon. We had quickly decided to start the walk there and return via Udny Station towards Dyce.

I had elected to use a tiny rucksack which worked well although there wasn't much in it apart from my lunch!   The old railway line was perfect for walking and talking - no need to navigate or even pay much attention to the underfoot conditions.

{Level crossing gates in the undergrowth}

{The pub we didn't visit............}

At Newmachar we elected to wait for the bus back to Aberdeen - probably a mistake as it was more than 45 minutes before it came along.... there would have been plenty of time to walk a bit further. However, the old shoulder was aching a bit so I was grateful for the bus which returned us to Aberdeen Station in plenty of time for our coffee and cake!

{Louise - consulting her GPS......}

Might even try some more of this Way - there are two spurs to follow after Maud - one to Peterhead and the other to Fraserburgh. 

Louise's much more detailed walk report is here