What to do . . .
Gardenstown and Crovie have a rich jumble of traditional fishing cottages, a sandy beach with rock pools and a picturesque 19th century harbour to explore. On a warm day you can fish from the sea wall, enjoy a stroll along the water’s edge or simply sit and enjoy the peace and quiet. If you want to explore further there are no less than five local walks that take you along the sea and then up inland around ancient and working farmland; in 2006-7 our coast will also be linked into the international ‘Nortrail’ initiative, a continuous coastal pathway joining all the countries bordering the North Sea.
For history enthusiasts, a walk along the beach and up to the ruined kirk
of St John is well worth the steep climb, and boasts a magnificent view
over the village. Further along the coast are Pictish forts and Bronze
Age sites, as well as fine examples of Georgian and Victorian architecture.
In neighbouring Banff you can also enjoy the impressive architecture and
noble history of Duff House, in most recent years an outpost of the National
Galleries of Scotland.
Gamrie is also home to three contemporary craft galleries promoting north east artists, and the neighbouring village of Crovie plays host to the well respected ‘The End of The Pier’ art exhibition every two years in the summer months. For more on the visual arts, follow the Scotland’s Galleries Trail, the Banffshire Coast arts trail, or the Scottish Potters Association map trail which feature visual arts in the area. There is also Gamrie Creatives: a weekend of arts and crafts exhibitions and demonstrations in Gardenstown - 7th to 9th July 2015. Download a copy of the Gamrie Creatives leaflet here.
If you have children the beach and harbour are great places of discovery and adventure, and don’t forget to keep a look out for dolphins in the bay. For a closer look you can even take a boat trip and explore the wide variety of wildlife along the Moray Firth Coastline. A 15 minute drive takes you to the Duff House adventure playground and woods; this is also the site of the Banff Carnival of Youth, a summer festival with a parade, live music and activity stalls, an exciting day for all the family. If the weather’s not so good, head for the giant indoor play centre at Williamson’s Garden Centre, Turriff.
Just outside Gamrie there are plenty of activities and events to enjoy including the Macduff Marine Aquarium, the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival at Portsoy, and The Deveron Music Festival. A short drive takes you to the Tarlair Golf Club in Macduff and the Royal Duff House Golf Club in Banff, both of which are open to visitors. The village also makes a good base from which to explore the Tourist Board’s ever popular Whisky and Castle Trails.
Download Walks in Gardenstown & Crovie Brochure PDF
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