Gravel Cycling
Formartine & Buchan Way
A former railway through rolling Buchan farmland to the Aberdeenshire coast
Quick facts
- Distance
- 66 km (41 mi)
- Ascent
- 420 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Route type
- Linear
- Archetype
- Railway Path
- Region
- Aberdeenshire
- Start point
- Dyce, Aberdeen
- Grid ref
- NJ 884 128
- Parking
- AB21 7EA
- Midges
- Low
- Dogs
- Off-lead OK
Surface breakdown
- Railway path95%
- Tarmac single-track5%
About this route
The Formartine and Buchan Way follows the trackbed of the old Great North of Scotland Railway from Dyce, on Aberdeen's northern outskirts, through the farmland of Formartine and Buchan to Maud, where it splits — north for 16 miles to Fraserburgh, east for 14–15 miles to Peterhead. Dyce to Fraserburgh is 66 km. The landscape is classic Buchan: wide farmland skies, big fields and estate woodland belts.
This is not dramatic scenery — no mountains, no gorges, no sea until the final approach to Fraserburgh. What it offers is 66 km of off-road riding with negligible gradient, on compacted aggregate with tarmac through the towns, and a strong sense of travelling through working Scotland. The old junction station at Maud now houses the Maud Railway Museum.
Highlights
- Maud Railway Museum at the old junction station
- Railway heritage along the line — old stations, bridges, mileage signs and workers' huts
- The White Horse on Mormond Hill, above the Fraserburgh branch
- Museum of Scottish Lighthouses at Fraserburgh
- Open Buchan farming sky — undramatic and genuinely vast
Key waypoints
- 1. Dyce
- 2. Newmachar
- 3. Udny
- 4. Ellon
- 5. Auchnagatt
- 6. Maud
- 7. Strichen
- 8. Fraserburgh
Cafés & pubs on route
- · Ellon (town centre)
- · Fraserburgh (town centre)
Named climbs
- None significant — a former railway, relatively flat throughout
Notable descents
- None significant
Accessibility
The Formartine & Buchan Way follows a former railway alignment for much of its length — 95% railway path, with gradients typically below 1:50. This makes it accessible to Road bike, Gravel bike, E-bike. The path is shared with walkers and dog-walkers — use a bell and slow near pedestrians, particularly near Dyce and Auchnagatt.
Route notes
Navigation is easy on the old line, with tarmac sections through the towns. Fraserburgh has no railway: return to Aberdeen by bus. The Peterhead branch (14 miles on Aberdeenshire Council's route cards, 15 on SGT — about 23 km from Maud) is an alternative finish, via Old Deer, Mintlaw and Aden Country Park.
Year-round conditions
The Formartine and Buchan Way is a true four-season route. The open landscape means it dries quickly after rain. Spring has larks over the fields. The harvest in August–September is atmospheric, with combines on both sides of the path. December days are short but the track is rideable in dry frost.
Key hazards
- Exposed to North Sea wind — a westerly tailwind makes this ride effortless; a headwind does not
- Limited shelter options if weather deteriorates on the Buchan plain
- Traffic on road sections through Ellon
Water sources on route
- Refill in Ellon, Maud and Strichen
- Burns along the line drain farmland — do not drink
Always filter or treat water from natural sources. Carry at least 1L reserve on remote sections.
OS map sheets
Nearest hill
Mount Battock
778m · cairngorms
View hill
Nearest bothy
Gelder Shiel Stable
Walk-in not published · cairngorms
View bothy
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:17
- Sunset
- 16:28
- Civil dawn
- 06:36
- Civil dusk
- 17:09
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 October 2026
Common questions
- Can I split the Formartine & Buchan Way into two days?
- Ellon, 14 miles (22.5 km) from Dyce on the council's route cards, is the obvious overnight stop with hotels, B&Bs and shops. That leaves about 44 km from Ellon to Fraserburgh on day two; Maud, 18.5 km beyond Ellon, splits it more evenly but has little accommodation.
- How do I get back from Fraserburgh?
- Stagecoach North Scotland runs services 68, X68 and X67 from Fraserburgh to Aberdeen (bustimes.org, read 2026-10-27). Check with Stagecoach before counting on taking a bike, or plan a lift.
- Is the surface consistently good?
- Mostly. It is compacted aggregate with tarmac through the towns, but SGT notes some sections can be wet underfoot where water drains off the surrounding farmland.
- Is there a Peterhead branch option?
- Yes — from Maud the eastern branch runs about 23 km (14–15 miles) to Peterhead via Old Deer, Mintlaw and Longside, passing Aden Country Park. It makes an alternative endpoint.
After the ride
Resupply, eat, drink — on the SCOT network.
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