Bullers of Buchan

Bullers of Buchan
Bullers of Buchan
Bullers of Buchan Location within Aberdeenshire
OS grid reference	NK108380
Council area	Aberdeenshire
Lieutenancy area	Aberdeenshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	PETERHEAD
Postcode district	AB42
Dialling code	01779
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
Scottish Parliament	Banffshire and Buchan

The name Bullers of Buchan refers both to a collapsed sea cave and to the adjacent village, situated about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Peterhead in Buchan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Cave

The collapsed sea cave forms an almost circular chasm (the "pot")^[1] some 30 metres (98 ft) deep, where the sea rushes in through a natural archway.

Village

The small hamlet of cottages here is also known by the same name, and was historically a fishing village launching small boats from the bay below (the slipway may still be seen at low tide).

Cliffs

The cliffs at the Bullers provide a nesting site in spring for colonies of seabirds, including kittiwakes, puffins, fulmars, shags, razorbills and guillemots along with herring gulls and great black-backed gulls. Eider ducks may also be seen here, and gannets are frequently seen passing en route to their colonies north at Troup Head and south at the Bass Rock. Grey seals may be seen in the bay, and dolphins are often seen passing by offshore.

Access

The area is a popular sightseeing spot, with a car park but no tourist facilities. Access is via the A975 road, which is served by a regular bus service between Peterhead and Aberdeen.^[2]

The Bullers of Buchan lie on the Buchan coastal footpath, leading south to Slains Castle, Cruden Bay and Whinnyfold, and north to the Longhaven wildlife reserve.

Name

Engraving of the Bullers of Buchan (sea prospect), 1755

Engraving of the natural harbour at Bullers of Buchan, 1755

The name "Bullers" has been thought to be derived from the French "bouillir", meaning "to boil", as the water in the pot appears to boil during stormy weather, but another explanation says that the word is a Scots word meaning "rushing of water",^[3] relating to the sound made by the waves crashing in through the archway opening into the pot, perhaps.

History

The local area is rich with prehistory and historical features. Somewhat inland are a number of prehistoric monuments including Catto Long Barrow,^[4] Silver Cairn and numerous tumuli. In that same vicinity of the Laeca Burn watershed is the point d'appui of historic battles between invading Danes and indigenous Picts.

The Bullers of Buchan were cited in historical literature as early as the 18th century, most notably by the literary journalist James Boswell.^[5]

The Great North of Scotland Railway opened a halt at Bullers O'Buchan in 1900 to serve the needs of visitors to the site. The station closed in 1932.

See also

• Catto Long Barrow
• Laeca Burn

Line notes

1. "Bullers of Buchan 'The Pot'". collections.st-andrews.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
2. Aberdeenshire Council public transport information Archived 2010-02-11 at the Wayback Machine
3. SND: Buller Archived March 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
4. C. Michael Hogan, 2008
5. James Boswell, 1774

References

• C. Michael Hogan (2008) Catto Long Barrow fieldnotes, The Modern Antiquarian
• James Boswell, Frederick Albert Pottle, Charles Hodges Bennett, Ralph Heyward Isham () Boswell's Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D, republished by The Viking Press, 1936, 435 pages

External links

• Bullers of Buchan homepage