Fishing Villages

Windyheads Cottage is perfectly situated so that some of Scotland’s quaintest Fishing Villages are only a stone throw away.

In the immediate locality choose from Pennan, Crovie, Gardenstown, Banff and Macduff to name but a few

Pennan is a tiny fishing hamlet just off the coastal road, down a steep hill. Consisting of little more than a single row of whitewashed stone cottages tucked between a cliff and the sea, the village leapt into the limelight when the British Movie Local Hero was filmed here in 1982. Access is down a narrow road that emerges onto the village’s single street. There is a small car park at the western end of the village. Visit Pennan on a day with blue skies and blue seas which set off the white cottages and brightly coloured boats, which make for the perfect trip.

The tiny village of Crovie, whose residents frequently have their doorsteps washed by the sea, is just as appealing. Tucked against the steep cliffs, its so narrow that its residents have to park at one end of the village and continue to their houses on foot.

Gardenstown is another cliff-side village on the other side of Troup Head from Pennan, home to permanent residents as well as seasonal holidaymakers. Most of the original residents and fishermen’s families now live in the newer part of the village at the top of the hill. Enjoy a drink at the pub on the harbour or take an outing to the 11th-century chapel nearby. The harbour itself is well maintained with recent pontoons and around 80 boats berthed there during the summer. I highly recommend the footpath along the cliffs to Crathie

When arriving in Banff, you could be forgiven for thinking you have stepped into a miniature Edinburgh. Fine examples of Georgian architecture have attracted visitors to this area for centuries, from the Scots poet Robert Burns to, more recently, actor Timothy Spall, star of the Harry Potter films. I highly recommend a walk around Duff House and Gardens! There are many marvellous walks in Banff, the most inspiring being from Scotstown – dotted with traditional fishermen’s cottages – to the stunning sandy beach at Banff Links. Here’s your chance to spot our dolphins and if it’s not too bitter, surfers too!

The town of Macduff is less than a mile from its neighbour Banff. Macduff was once the hub of the area’s fishing industry. The centre of the town today still revolves around the harbour, where commercial fishing vessels continue to steam in and out of port.