Ellon Viaduct to Logierieve

The stone viaduct over the Ythan  at Ellon. This bridge which originally had three arches, collapsed following a landslide on 3rd February 1861, delaying the opening of the Line to Maud until it could be rebuilt -this time with four arches. 

This, the last section of our walk, began just beyond the viaduct where the A920 crosses the Line. It was  a beautiful autumnal morning, as can be seen from the photograph of the bridge, many trees are starting to turn and the margins of Line were  bright with scarlet rose hips and russet willow herb leaves, their plumed, feathery seeds drifting gently about. The first part of the walk south took us alongside Gallows Hill of Utlaw from whence, historically, 'pot and gallows law' was dispensed twice yearly.

The ruins of Esslemont Castle beside the A920 to the west of the Line. The original moated castle dated from the 14th century but was destroyed by fire in 1493 during a feud between the Cheynes and the Hays. This tower in the south east angle, dates from 1570-90. Originally built by the Mareschals  the castle passed to the Cheynes then in 1625 to the Errolls but was sold to the Gordons in 1728 and finally abandoned in 1769 in favour of nearby Esslemont House .

Esslemont Station from the north. Both this station and Logierieve are quite isolated. Esslemont was also a single platform station, the station building provided accommodation for the station agent with the bedroom in the roof space.

A geranium, with unusually rounded leaves, probably an escapee from the station garden, growing on the verge by Esslemont Station

Looking west to Bennachie across fields were harvest was going on.

Grey Granite especially liked the look of this ruined cottage close to the Line near  Hillhead of Mosstown,
 imagining  cottar bairnies standing by the house to wave at steam trains on the Line.

Geese filling the sky near the splendidly named Dukes Boots Wood


A highlight not only of this section of the walk, but of the whole journey, was standing on the Line and suddenly being surrounded by thousands of honking, clamorous geese who took to the sky as we approached. The noise was tremendous as they wheeled overhead.

A pheasant, just retreating into the willow herb, one of many on the track opposite Dukes Boots Wood

A late foxglove, these together with bright rosehips, the duller red of haws and the drifting seed plumes of rosebay willowherb characterize long stretches of the Line in autumn.

Rosebay willowherb seed heads

The Prop of Ythsie, a memorial to the forth Earl of Aberdeen, George Hamilton Gordon, Prime Minister 1852-1855 who became involved in the Crimean War.

Logierieve Station, looking north with the clock stopped at 5 to 7. 

The Newburgh to Old Meldrum Road Bridge can be seen on the extreme left. Logierieve was a single platform station with a small goods yard and was originally called Newburgh Road but was renamed about 3 months after opening - the village of Newburgh being about 5 miles to the east.

Passing under the bridge at Logierieve to reach the old platform Rufus and I reached the point on the Line which we had reached walking north from Dyce in 2011 and completed our 108 mile walk along the whole of the Formartine and Buchan Way in both directions. As we turned back to retrace our steps to Ellon the sun came out, bathing the Line north of the bridge in light, this seemed a good omen. 

Rufus

Amicus fedelis protectico fortis

Grey Granite first travelled the railway line from Aberdeen to Fraserburgh by steam train in the summer of 1951 and did so every year until Dr Beeching closed it  to passenger trains in 1965. Associated as this rail journey was with the longed for annual return  home to Buchan the Line has great significance for Grey Granite. Our walk has been a long enjoyable journey of discovery on many levels.