Back Doo' Thirl

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Kincardineshire

Scotland

Back Doo' Thirl

Allerdyce Street (A957), Stonehaven Looking southward. — Allerdyce Street (A957), Stonehaven Credit: Peter Wood

Back Doo' Thirl is a captivating coastal feature located in Kincardineshire, Scotland. Situated on the eastern coast of the country, it is a prominent headland that juts out into the North Sea. The name "Back Doo' Thirl" is derived from the local dialect and translates to "Back Door Thirl" in standard English.

This picturesque headland is characterized by its rugged cliffs, which tower above the crashing waves below. The cliffs are composed of layers of sedimentary rocks, providing a fascinating geological display. Visitors can witness the natural erosion processes that have shaped the land over thousands of years, resulting in dramatic rock formations and sea stacks.

Back Doo' Thirl offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding coastline. On clear days, it is possible to see as far as the towns of Stonehaven to the north and Montrose to the south. The headland also provides an ideal vantage point for observing the diverse marine life that inhabits the area, including seabirds, seals, and occasionally dolphins.

Access to Back Doo' Thirl is relatively straightforward, with a well-maintained footpath leading from the nearby village. The walk to the headland takes visitors through a picturesque coastal landscape, with stunning views of the sea and the rugged cliffs. As a popular destination for nature lovers and hikers, the area is equipped with designated viewing platforms, benches, and informative signage.

Back Doo' Thirl is not only a natural wonder but also a testament to Scotland's rich history. The headland has been a site of human activity for centuries, with archaeological evidence suggesting that it was once used as a lookout point during medieval times. Today, it continues to enchant visitors with its awe-inspiring beauty and captivating coastal charm.

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Back Doo' Thirl Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.956546/-2.1981388 or Grid Reference NO8885. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Allerdyce Street (A957), Stonehaven

Looking southward.

Peter Wood

Stonehaven Bay

A view across the bay from the harbour area towards the newer part of the town.

Gordon Hatton

Aircraft sculpture at Stonehaven

There are five such superb sculptures along the sea wall at Stonehaven. This one has a small plaque attached to the rock to say that this is a model of a Norwegian Seaplane which landed in the bay in April 1940, thus escaping the German invasion of Norway. The plane was piloted by Stein Gustavvson Abildso.

Gordon Hatton

Viking boat sculpture, Stonehaven

One of five beautiful sculptures on the sea wall at Stonehaven. This one depicts a Viking boat of the type that might have once headed this way from Norway.

Gordon Hatton

A Scottish delicacy

You may have thought that reports of the deep fried Mars bar being a delicacy in Scotland was a mere myth, but this sign on the wall of a chip shop in Stonehaven would confirm the truth. This contributor wasn't brave enough to try the dish.

Gordon Hatton

Old milestone

John Briggs used this 'C listed' property at 19 Bridgfield until earlier in 2021. It is at the south side of the bridge over Carron Water which is undergoing some flood defence works. In the recess near the blue hoarding is a milestone and below it a slightly recessed stone plaque. The bridge was built in 1781, widened in 1885 and rebuilt in 1973.

John Riddell

Old milestone

A close up of the milestone in the niche at the corner of the building to the south of the bridge over Carron Water. Inscribed on the left-hand face L/14 (for Laurencekirk), A/14 (Aberdeen) on the right and BERVIE/10 on the bevel. The vertical plaque below is inscribed THEOBALD/BARCLAY/1150 (the first Barclays ancestor in Scotland 1150), MATHERS/1351 (Barclays acquired the Mathers estate in 1351), URIE/1647 (Barclays bought Urie estate 1647),COND/1781. This stone was copied from the keystone on the 1781 bridge which was concealed by the 1885 widening.

John Riddell

Ordnance Survey Flush Bracket G896

This bracket can be found on the wall of the Police Station, Stonehaven. The recorded details give a height of 4.1664 metres above sea level. For more details see : Link

Peter Wood

Ordnance Survey Flush Bracket G897

This bracket can be found on the wall of the Town Hall, Stonehaven. The recorded details give a height of 5.5802 metres above sea level. For more details see : Link

Peter Wood

Downie Point

This is the 'island' forming the end of Downie Point. The flat topped island-like end of the headland isn't easily reachable on foot due to the steep gorge.

Peter Robinson

Mains of Cowie

The home farm for Cowie House, about 500 metres to the north east. The farmhouse (LB9387 Link

) and extensive steadings to the right (LB9349 Link

) have separate C-listings. In the foreground is the former A92 main road to Aberdeen.

Bill Harrison

Former A92 road

This was once the main road from Stonehaven to Aberdeen but has been downgraded since the Stonehaven by-pass was built.

Bill Harrison

Geological interest at Cowie

Cliffs of the Cowie red sandstone formation (sedimentary bedrock formed approximately 426 to 431 million years ago in the Silurian Period) face onto a wave-cut platform of interbedded Castle Of Cowie sandstone and siltstone, formed at the same time. In the foreground, much darker rocks of an intrusion of igneous magma, being part of the North Britain Siluro-Devonian calc-alkaline dyke suite: quartz, feldspar and porphyry formed approximately 359 to 444 million years ago in the Devonian and Silurian Periods. All this happened when the land mass that was to become Scotland was south of the equator.

Bill Harrison