New Aberdour Beach

New Aberdour Beach is about half-way between Banff and Fraserburgh. It’s a shingle and sand beach situated in the small cove. At the East end of the beach there’s a couple of limestone caves, the most easily accessible of which is covered in graffiti! The beach and caves also featured in the 2016 remake of the film Whisky Galore.

In the middle of the beach is the St Drostan’s Well. St Drostan is believed to have landed at the beach in the late 500AD, and the near-by church is named after him. He also founded Deer Abbey and is mentioned in the Book of Deer. Upon his death in Glenesk, his remains were translated to the church at New Aberdour.

Towards the West end of the beach stands a memorial to Jane Whyte who, in October 1884, helped rescue 15 members of the crew of the stricken ship William Hope that had run around on the beach. For her bravery, she was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal for Bravery, and a Board of Trade bronze medal of gallantry. The memorial stands on the site of her house.