Forvie Sands and the Ythan Estuary

At a Glance

Distance

6.0 km (3.7 miles)

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

2 hr

Walk Type

Coastal, Historic

Route Type

Circular

Off Lead Potential

Low

Livestock Risk

None

Facilities

No facilities at the Waterside car park; cafes, shops and toilets in Newburgh village (5 minutes walk).

Parking

Free car park at Waterside, Newburgh (around 30 spaces); fills on sunny weekends.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is Forvie Sands and the Ythan Estuary dog friendly?

  Forvie Sands and the Ythan Estuary is dog friendly, but with meaningful seasonal restrictions that affect how much of the reserve you can access. It rates 6 out of 10 for dog friendliness — outside the breeding season (September to March) it's a genuinely excellent walk, but summer visits are more limited due to protections for nesting birds.

• Can dogs be off lead at Forvie Sands and the Ythan Estuary?

  From September through March, dogs can run freely on the beach under close control, which makes for a wonderfully open run on one of the emptiest stretches of east coast beach in Scotland. Between April and August, however, dogs must be kept on a short lead throughout the reserve, and the southern end is completely closed to people and dogs during that period to protect the ternery.

• What should I know before visiting Forvie Sands and the Ythan Estuary with my dog?

  The walk is a circular route crossing the Ythan Estuary outflow, through the Forvie Sands dune system, and back along a long stretch of firm beach — the terrain is flat but the dunes are soft going, so factor that in. There are no facilities at the Waterside car park, though cafes, shops and toilets are just five minutes away in Newburgh village. The free car park holds around 30 spaces and can fill quickly on sunny weekends, so an early arrival is wise.

Waterside car park, Newburgh

57.3129, -1.9967