Discovering Banffshire’s Historic Harbours
From forts and castles, ports and distilleries, museums and stone circles, Banffshire is home to an unrivalled and diversely rich heritage dating back thousands of years! Since the 16th Century, fishing has been an important way of life in our community which even today still strongly supports our local communities.
Dozens of historic fishing villages and harbours dating as far back as the 16th Century line the rugged Moray Coast and though they are no longer in commercial use, they remain in tact today providing brilliant insights into centuries of historic heritage with scenic walks, quirky cafes and brilliant nature viewpoints where you can spot Puffins, Dolphins and sometimes even Orca Pods!
Banff Harbour
Settled on the banks of the River Deveron, the historic fishing town of Banff has provided a wealthy heritage for our local community which dates back to the 1600’s and has long been regarded as one of the safest harbours in Moray.
The harbour hosts several private sail boats with a brilliant pier to enjoy during the Summer months and connects to Banff Links which is a beautiful golden sandy beach just ideal for dog walkers or romantic walks, with local cafes and ice cream shops near to hand.
Watersports, snorkeling, parasailing and open water swimming are all popular pastimes here and the harbour also hosts several charter tours along the Moray Firth.
Portsoy Harbour
Originally completed in 1693, Portsoy harbour has long been enjoyed by locals and visitors alike and is the setting for many local community events and gatherings including the world famous Portsoy Boat Festival. Lined by former grainstores, warehosues and residential homes. the existing harbour was completed in the 1800’s after storm damage with a new stone and concrete pier constructed which still stands today.
During the Summer months, the harbour is a popular spot for sunbathers, paddleboarders and swimmers alike. And of course don’t forget to stop by the award winning Portsoy Ice Cream shop!
Rosehearty
One of Scotland’s oldest seaports, Rosehearty harbour once served over 600 people from the late 16th century and expanded to cope with increased sea traffic. The triangular tidal harbour features similar masonry to Portsoy Harbour and for centuries provided a strong livelihood for locals until the much relied on Herring Trade declined in the 1800’s.
Today, the harbour is used for recreational use by private sailing boats and adjacent to rocky cliffs and beaches which have long been enjoyed by holidaymakers and local visitors alike.
Boddam
An integral part of the booming Herring trade of the 18th Century, Boddam Harbour was constructed in 1831 with additional ports completed later in the century to support the increased fleet of traffic around the port. Following on from the declining fishing market Boddam supported Aberdeen’s booming granite market with transportation from surrounding quarries until the mid-20th century.
Today, the harbour still hosts a small number of sailing boats and can be a great place to spend an afternoon dolphin spotting during those warm summer months.
Gamrie (Gardenstown and Crovie)
One of my favourite places to visit in the world, Gamrie comprises of the town of Gardenstown and the village of Crovie which are both nestled neatly between the red sandstone cliffs of Gamrie. Founded in the 1700’s (with some buildings predating the 1500’s), Gardenstown and Crovie were once home to over 300 fisherman and 50 fishing boats during the 20th century until a catastrophic storm in 1953 washed away the ajoining path and flood defences which saw many residents permanantly flee to Gardenstown.
The quaint fishing cottages of Crovie still line the stunning promenade today (with the majority let as holiday cottages) with a coastal walk through the rockface to neighbouring Gardenstown is high on my list of recommendations, where you can find several quaint novelty shops, pubs and restaurants serving only the freshest produce.
