Cullen to Whitehills

Local Geodiversity site | Aberdeenshire

Scotland's geosites are chosen because of their local, national or international importance. Take only photos, leave only footprints: avoid causing any damage to this site. You can walk almost anywhere in Scotland without the need to ask permission or keep to paths, but you have a responsibility to care for your own safety, to respect people's privacy and peace of mind and to cause no damage.

The right of access does not extend to quarries, building sites or any land where public access is prohibited, or to the collection of geological samples.

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Summary

Coastline with maritime grassland, steep cliffs and rocky intertidal shores. Important for diversity of plants and invertebrates. Old Red Sandstone cliffs. Boyne Quarry has exposures of glacial and interglacial features.

Site information

Access

Old Hythe Bay and most of Boyne Bay are only accessible at low tide. Park at the end of the road to the quarry where the signposts say "no unauthorised persons": there is a footpath track right alongside the quarry road which is well maintained and mown, with gates, and takes you all the way to a set of rocks that act like stairs down to the bay, though they are slippery.

Old Hythe Bay is accessed by following path past Boyne Quarry to Boyne Bay. From the beach a short scramble westwards over a grassy knoll allows access to Old Hythe Bay, not suitable for anyone with disabilities.

The disused Lido to the West of Portsoy is readily accessible from a well-maintained road and spacious car park from which there is a great view of the sheer.

Safety notes

There are many tussocks and slippery rocks when you climb the grassy headland from Boyne Bay to Old Hythe Bay, and it is very steep and the track is barely visible. Giant Hogweed was also seen on the path next to the quarry road.

There are many tussocks and slippery rocks when you climb the grassy headland from Boyne Bay to Old Hythe Bay, and it is very steep. Giant Hogweed was also seen on the path next to the quarry road.

Use caution around the disused lido to the West of Portsoy - many of the rocks are very slick, and rotting seaweed can create a sulphuric scent, towards the northern end of the lido.

Further information

There is a very descriptive itinerary for a visit to this area from Aberdeen Geological Society: THE DALRADIAN OF THE PORTSOY AREA by J. P. CARTY & T. E. JOHNSON https://www.aberdeengeolsoc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/03-Portsoy.pdf

https://www.scottishgeologytrust.org/geology/51-best-places…

The impressive Portsoy Sheer is documented on the Scottish Geology Trust website.

There are many amenities in the nearby Whitehills, including a fish and chip shop.

Related geosites

Overlaps with

Boyne Quarry

Cullen - Troup Head, Banffshire Coast

The gated path adjacent to the quarry road, about half way from the car to the bay. Quarry road is out of bounds to unauthorised people but the pathway was well maintained and continues all the way to give access to the bay. The distance from parking to bay is about 800m and is fairly level, though with a sleep, slippery, rock "staircase" at the end.

Rowan Barnes

July 19, 2025

NJ 6143 6563 (bearing 001)

Wide shot of weathered folded limestone, card for scale at foot of photo, Old Hythe Bay east of Portsoy.

Rowan Barnes

July 19, 2025

NJ 6153 6618 (bearing 207)

Beautiful folds in limestone. Card for scale. Old Hythe Bay, east of Portsoy.

Rowan Barnes

July 19, 2025

NJ 6153 6618 (bearing 179)

Lots of folds in country rock that jutted out like a boulder. Card for scale.

Rowan Barnes

July 19, 2025

NJ 6152 6618 (bearing 216)

Shot near ground level, in a recessed inlet. East of Portsoy, in Old Hythe Bay, the south side. Card for scale.

Rowan Barnes

July 19, 2025

NJ 6152 6617 (bearing 199)

East of Portsoy, in Old Hythe Bay, the south east side. Close up of coarse grains and folds. This photo is about 5ft off the ground, above the inlet pictured above. Card for scale.

Rowan Barnes

July 19, 2025

NJ 6152 6617 (bearing 177)

East of Portsoy, in Old Hythe Bay, the south east side.

Rowan Barnes

July 19, 2025

NJ 6155 6618 (bearing 267)

The north west end of Boyne Bay, east of Portsoy, with the quarry SW of this position. Card for scale.

Rowan Barnes

July 19, 2025

NJ 6160 6609 (bearing 164)

The north west end of Boyne Bay, east of Portsoy, with the quarry SW of this position. Card for scale.

Rowan Barnes

July 19, 2025

NJ 6159 6610 (bearing 240)

The north west end of Boyne Bay, east of Portsoy, with the quarry SW of this position. Card for scale.

Rowan Barnes

July 19, 2025

NJ 6159 6610 (bearing 108)

Tourmaline mineralisation in pegmatite. East Head, east of Portsoy.,

Dave Longstaff

Dec. 15, 2024

NJ 6029 6686

Dalradian aged pothole filled with ORS breccia.

Dave Longstaff

Dec. 16, 2024

NJ 5649 6643 (bearing 060)

East side Sandend Bay, Red Haven. ORS unconformably sat on Fordyce Limestone Formation.

Dave Longstaff

June 9, 2016

NJ 5649 6643 (bearing 090)

Folded and refolded metalimestones, calcareous semipelites and calc-silicate beds, Boyne Castle Limestone Member. SE side of Old Hythe Bay.

Dave Longstaff

June 9, 2016

NJ 6146 6616

Wider shot of the "Cowhythe Psammite Formation, folded psammites and semipelites" image found below on this page. West side of Old Hythe Bay.

Rowan Barnes

July 19, 2025

NJ 6154 6618 (bearing 187)

Cowhythe Psammite Formation, folded psammites and semipelites. West side of Old Hythe Bay. Small amount of scrambling required.

Dave Longstaff

June 9, 2016

NJ 6147 6631 (bearing 300)

Closeup photograph of folded and refolded metalimestones, calcareous semipelites and calc-silicate beds, Boyne Castle Limestone Member. SE side of Old Hythe Bay.

Dave Longstaff

June 9, 2016

NJ 6146 6616