Gardenstown, or Gamrie as it's known locally, is situated on the north-east coast of Scotland and has big skies, big seas, and it nestles below dramatic red sandstone cliffs. It has rows of prettily-painted traditional fishermen's cottages, a beach and is one of the most beautiful villages in Scotland. It has a nice old-fashioned family feel to it, with its own butcher and bakers (not a candlestick maker although there used to be a candle-maker).
Get in
By car
From the south - Follow M90 to Perth, then take the A90 Dundee road and follow this up to Aberdeen.
For coastal route - as soon as you reach Aberdeen, follow road signs for A90 for around 18 miles, then turn off on the A952 to Fraserburgh. Then at Fraserburgh, follow signs for A98 to Banff and approximately 20 miles along that road, you will see the turn-off for Gardenstown.
For country route - follow roadsigns for A947 Banff/Macduff. At Banff Macduff, follow roadsigns for A98 Fraserburgh for about 2 miles until the signed turn-off for the coastal route and Gardenstown.
From west/north - from Inverness, follow the A96 Aberdeen road until a mini-roundabout near the end of Fochabers, when you turn off on the A98 Fraserburgh road. Follow this road, going through Banff/Macduff until you reach the signed turn-off for the coastal route and Gardenstown about 2 miles out from Banff/Macduff.
By bus
Stagecoach Bus 273 runs along the coast from Banff and Macduff to Gardenstown, taking 30 min. It normally continues to Fraserburgh but since March 2020 is curtailed at Gardenstown and only runs every two hours.
From Aberdeen take Bus 35 towards Elgin, and change at Macduff. This too only runs every two hours.
Get around
See
- Gamrie Heritage Centre, Harbour St AB45 3YT. Apr-Oct M-F 14:00-16:00. Small local history museum.
- 1 Troup Head Nature Reserve (on the B9031 about 2 miles east of Gardenstown.). always open. RSPB reserve for looking at gannets, guillemots, kittiwakes, puffins and razorbills. free.
- 2 Crovie. Pretty small coastal village which can be approached on foot by a coastal path from Gardenstown.
- 3 Pennan. Small coastal village used as location for filming Local Hero in the 1980s. Make a phone call from the famous red phone box.
Do
Eat
- 1 Garden Arms, 69 Main Street, Gardenstown AB45 3YP. The local pub, restaurant and hotel (rooms from £25 per person).
- 2 Pennan Inn, Pennan, ☏ 44 1346 561201.
Drink
Garden Arms is the main pub.
Sleep
See Eat for the Garden Arms, and also consider staying along the coast in Banff or Macduff.
- 1 Harbour Cottage Gardenstown, Harbour Rd (Gardenstown, Banff), ☏ 44 1261 851914. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10.30pm. Harbour Cottage offers the best of Scotland's coast and country. Lovely detached cottage with en-suite & WIFI in Gardenstown Scotland on Moray Firth – close to harbour and beach where you can see the dolphins and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Affordable accommodation - ideal for couples...and their dog! from £250 - £295.
- 2 Two Bears Cottage (4 star Self Catering cottage), High St, ☏ 44 1772 863214. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. Award winning charming old fisherman's cottage. Excellent sea views from all windows. En suite master bedroom. Visit Scotland 4 star accredited. £250/£400.
Connect
As of Dec 2020, Gardenstown remains a dead spot - you might manaage a call with Vodafone, but there's no signal with EE, O2 or Three.
Go next
- West to Banff, Portsoy, Lossiemouth and Elgin
- East to Fraserburgh
- South to Methlick and Huntly