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How Well Do You Know Banffshire?
Unearth Its Hidden Gems
The Banffshire Coast is described as a
treasure trove for nature lovers as well as walkers, cyclists and arts
and culture fanatics. This beautiful part of Scotland has much to offer
and holds its own treasures in the form of beauty spots, places of
interest and outstanding scenery. Why not encounter these secret riches
for yourself?
The Banffshire Coast Tourism Partnership
gives its top five hidden gem suggestions for explorers:
Hidden gem number 1
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The red phone box, Pennan
 - Made famous by its appearance in the film
'Local Hero' 20 years ago, this iconic object still stands today and has
a preservation order on it. It still attracts tourists from all over the
world. Pennan was voted the best film location in 2005 and it's easy to
understand why with its stunning scenery, quaint cottages and friendly
locals.
Hidden gem number 2
Hell's Lum - As scary as it sounds, this chasm is situated one mile west
of Pennan, adjacent to Fort Fiddes, at Cullykhan Bay and is said to echo
the voices of 1,000 dead sailors. On a windy day listen out for the
voices of the spirits whistling up through the rocks! There are also
wooden steps down from the sea cliff tunnel to a beautiful sandy beach.
Hidden gem number 3
- Troup Head
 A 'must visit' area for bird spotters. The 4km stretch of
cliff-top is home to Scotland's only gannet colony, with an estimated
1,500 nests, and one of only two such colonies in the whole of the UK.
Troup Head is also ideal walking country, complete with beaches, cave
formations, wild flowers and even the iron age 'Fort Fiddes' just along
the coastline.
Hidden gem number 4
Gold Panning In Pennan - Discover the areas riches! The sea caves
and shingle beaches of the Banffshire Coast made the area popular with
smugglers and it is said that there is still buried treasure in these
parts. Divers recently unearthed gold whilst exploring a submerged cave
in the waters off Pennan.
Hidden gem number 5
Bowfiddle Rock - This stunning natural arch has been cut by waves
and acts as a roosting place for gulls and cormorants. Expect stunning
scenery and lots of wildlife.
Karen Crowe, of The Banffshire Coast
Tourism Partnership, says, "People may think that they know Banffshire
well but there are so many places of interest, historic landmarks and
other hidden treasures to discover, it can take a few visits for people
to truly appreciate its beauty! Even people who have lived in Banffshire
all of their lives are surprised when they stumble across things they
have never seen before."
Karen continues, "There are many nooks and
crannies dotted along the coast making a trip to Banffshire like a
treasure hunt, unearthing things from the past and piecing together what
the area would have been like many years ago."
More about the Banffshire coast and its
hidden gems can be found at
www.banffshirecoast.com
More Places On Caithness.org
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Another View Of Pennan
Banffshire Coast -
Home To The Pirates of Pennan?
Although the majority of skull and cross-bones style pirates were found
in theGulf of Mexico and off the eastern coast of America, we are most
likely to associate pirates with the hit-flick 'Pirates of the
Caribbean'. You'd be surprised to find out that a remote corner of the
Banffshire Coast in the North East of Scotland is also famed for stories
of pirates, buried treasure and being a well known haven for smugglers.
The area around Pennan offers the opportunity for an adventure-filled
holiday, with something to appeal to the most swashbuckling of families!
Pirates of Pennan
Pennan is a small coastal hamlet, with rows of tiny whitewashed cottages
meandering between 300ft cliffs and the sea below, the perfect setting
for swashbuckling pirates ready to plunder their riches. The recent
discovery of hidden treasure by divers, who struck gold whilst exploring
a submerged cave in the waters off Pennan, proves Pennan's Pirate
credentials.
Follow in the footsteps
of Jack Sparrow and find your own hidden treasures by exploring the many
hidden nooks and crannies, you may not strike gold, but you are sure to
find some special souvenirs to take home. For those with a Will Turner,
cast-iron constitution, join the coastal trail and visit Hell's Lum at
Cullykhan Bay, where it is said the voices of 1,000 dead sailors echo!
Ship Ahoy
Be captain of your own ship by joining one of the two cruises that
operate daily on the Banffshire Coast. Whether you prefer the more
leisurely Puffin Cruises or the speedy North 58 Sea Adventures, they
both offer the chance to see the diverse marine wildlife such as
dolphins and porpoises, but for those seeking more scary sea monsters,
the occasional sightings of killer whales and sharks have been reported!
Movie Moguls
For
those less enamoured with Pirates of the Carribean, but movie buffs all
the same, Pennan holds the title of the 'UK's Best Film Location'. In
1983 Pennan rose to fame because of the appearance of the village's red
phone box in the hit film Local Hero. The phone box still stands today
and is a major visitor attraction to tourists from all over the world.
Where to stay?
Why not stay in your own slice of movie history at one of the
identifiable landmarks from the film, the Pennan Inn. The venue is well
known for its convivial atmosphere with an excellent seafood restaurant
and cosy bar.
For further information
on the Banffshire Coast and all that it offers visit
www.banffshirecoast.com
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