Cruden Bay, it was here that Malcom II defeated an invading Norse army in 1022 and the name Cruden means Slaughter of the Danes. The Forvie National Nature Reserve is nearby and incorporates the Sands of Forvie, one of Britains largest dune areas, where you will find a rich array of birds. From there you will find a network of trails through the dunes, one of which lead to a 15
th century village buried by the shifting sands.
From Cruden Bay itself, a walk leads to Slains Castle, which inspired Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula. It was built in 1597 by the 9
th Earl of Erroll after his return to
Scotland from exile, being pardoned by James VI for his rebellion. It was remodelled to a gothic style in the 19
th century. From here you can witness some of the finest cliff scenery in Britain with a precarious 3 mile walk which leads to the Bullars of Buchan, a 245 ft deep sea chasm. The area plays host to a huge variety of birdlife.
Great care should be taken along the clifftops as they are quite dangerous in places.
