Girdle Ness

Coastal Feature, Headland, Point in Kincardineshire

Scotland

Girdle Ness

Aberdeen South Breakwater in heavy seas Waves breaking over the South breakwater.
Aberdeen South Breakwater in heavy seas Credit: Keith Grinsted

Girdle Ness is a prominent coastal feature located in Kincardineshire, Scotland. It is a headland that extends into the North Sea, forming a distinctive point along the coastline. The name "Girdle Ness" is derived from the Scottish word "girdle," meaning a belt or band, which aptly describes the shape of this land formation.

Situated near the mouth of the River Dee, Girdle Ness offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding area. It boasts rugged cliffs and rocky outcrops, which provide a habitat for various bird species, including gulls, fulmars, and cormorants. Birdwatchers often flock to this area to observe the diverse avian population that calls Girdle Ness home.

The headland is also known for its historical significance. At the tip of Girdle Ness stands the Girdleness Lighthouse, which was built in 1833 and is still operational today. This iconic landmark serves as a navigational aid for ships entering the busy port of Aberdeen. The lighthouse is a distinctive white tower with a red band in the middle, making it easily recognizable from a distance.

Girdle Ness attracts visitors who enjoy coastal walks, photography, and exploring the rich natural and historical heritage of the region. The headland is easily accessible, with a well-maintained footpath that leads visitors along the cliff edge, offering breathtaking vistas of the sea and the coastline. It is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, offering a peaceful and picturesque setting to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

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Girdle Ness Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.138883/-2.0452382 or Grid Reference NJ9705. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Aberdeen South Breakwater in heavy seas Waves breaking over the South breakwater.
Aberdeen South Breakwater in heavy seas
Waves breaking over the South breakwater.
Flag of convenience The E R Athina oil support vessel enters Aberdeen harbour.  Its home port is Monrovia (Liberia) but I would be surprised if it has ever been near west Africa (<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_convenience" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_convenience">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> ).  Its movements can be tracked here: <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:3715544/mmsi:636091426/imo:9448528/vessel:E_R_ATHINA" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:3715544/mmsi:636091426/imo:9448528/vessel:E_R_ATHINA">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> .
Flag of convenience
The E R Athina oil support vessel enters Aberdeen harbour. Its home port is Monrovia (Liberia) but I would be surprised if it has ever been near west Africa (LinkExternal link ). Its movements can be tracked here: LinkExternal link .
Torry Battery The former gun emplacement that protected Aberdeen harbour until WWII: <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/web/files/LocalHistory/torry_battery.pdf" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/web/files/LocalHistory/torry_battery.pdf">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> .
Torry Battery
The former gun emplacement that protected Aberdeen harbour until WWII: LinkExternal link .
Entrance to Torry Battery
Entrance to Torry Battery
Footdee Gospel Hall In the centre of North Square and dating from ca. 1870, surrounded by communal green space and lots of washing lines!
Footdee Gospel Hall
In the centre of North Square and dating from ca. 1870, surrounded by communal green space and lots of washing lines!
Footdee terrace Footdee (pronounced 'fittie') is a planned fishing village designed by John Smith and one of Aberdeen's most distinctive and attractive districts.
Footdee terrace
Footdee (pronounced 'fittie') is a planned fishing village designed by John Smith and one of Aberdeen's most distinctive and attractive districts.
North Square, Footdee Originally an area for drying and mending fishing nets and thankfully car-free.
North Square, Footdee
Originally an area for drying and mending fishing nets and thankfully car-free.
Footdee cottages... ...on the north side of North Square.
Footdee cottages...
...on the north side of North Square.
Walking the dog in Footdee The single-storey cottage in the foreground is as-built (although originally thatched); those farther back have been extended upwards.
Walking the dog in Footdee
The single-storey cottage in the foreground is as-built (although originally thatched); those farther back have been extended upwards.
Footdee terrace The terraced cottages in the planned fishing village were originally single-storey, but many have been extended to two or even three storeys over the last 200 years.
Footdee terrace
The terraced cottages in the planned fishing village were originally single-storey, but many have been extended to two or even three storeys over the last 200 years.
Footdee parking Thankfully the main squares in the planned fishing village of Footdee are car free, but one place to park is in the lane between South and North Squares.
Footdee parking
Thankfully the main squares in the planned fishing village of Footdee are car free, but one place to park is in the lane between South and North Squares.
Terrace, South Square, Footdee The communal space is full of planters and quirky ornaments.
Terrace, South Square, Footdee
The communal space is full of planters and quirky ornaments.
Footdee terrace Almost every cottage has a bench outside for the residents to sit and watch the tourists...   I believe that the gas lamp is a non-functional replica.
Footdee terrace
Almost every cottage has a bench outside for the residents to sit and watch the tourists... I believe that the gas lamp is a non-functional replica.
The Dee meets the sea Mouth of the River Dee. To the left, the former harbourmaster's tower. On the south bank, the gateway of Torry Battery can just be made out as well as a plethora of gorse.
The Dee meets the sea
Mouth of the River Dee. To the left, the former harbourmaster's tower. On the south bank, the gateway of Torry Battery can just be made out as well as a plethora of gorse.
Leaving Aberdeen With the modern Harbourmaster's building in view.
Leaving Aberdeen
With the modern Harbourmaster's building in view.
MV Dunter in dry dock, Aberdeen Dunter is one of the pilot tugs at Sullom Voe Terminal in Shetland.
MV Dunter in dry dock, Aberdeen
Dunter is one of the pilot tugs at Sullom Voe Terminal in Shetland.
Sea cadets training in Aberdeen Harbour
Sea cadets training in Aberdeen Harbour
Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) on the North Pier, Aberdeen
Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) on the North Pier, Aberdeen
Show me another place!

Girdle Ness is located at Grid Ref: NJ9705 (Lat: 57.138883, Lng: -2.0452382)

Unitary Authority: City of Aberdeen

Police Authority: North East

What 3 Words

///video.crunch.zones. Near Aberdeen

Nearby Locations

Greyhope Bay Girdle Ness

Related Wikis

Girdle Ness Lighthouse

Girdle Ness Lighthouse (or Girdleness Lighthouse) is situated near Torry Battery on the Girdle Ness peninsula just south of the entrance to Aberdeen's...

Greyhope Bay

Greyhope Bay is a bay in the city of Aberdeen in Scotland, near the entrance to Aberdeen Harbour. It is the site of Torry Battery. In 1813, Greyhope Bay...

Sinking of the Oscar

The Oscar was a whaling ship that was wrecked near Aberdeen, Scotland, on 1 April 1813. It was so close to the shore that families helplessly watched the...

Nigg Bay, Aberdeen

Nigg Bay is a cove to the east of Aberdeen, between Girdle Ness and Greg Ness, in the old parish of Nigg. In 2017, work began to develop the bay into a...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 57.138883,-2.0452382
Source: PGS
Lat/Long: 57.1375733/-2.0482485
Man Made: mast
Lat/Long: 57.138564/-2.0485951
Man Made: mast
Lat/Long: 57.138286/-2.0492952
Man Made: foghorn
Wikidata: Q105845781
Wikimedia Commons: File:Foghorn - geograph.org.uk - 11665.jpg
Lat/Long: 57.1385814/-2.0474069
Bench
Backrest: yes
Lat/Long: 57.1392407/-2.0477127
Man Made: radar
Lat/Long: 57.1395056/-2.0482652
Golf: pin
Ref: 3
Lat/Long: 57.1380796/-2.0523838
Golf: pin
Ref: 9
Lat/Long: 57.1377249/-2.0528513
Girdle Ness
Natural: cape
Lat/Long: 57.1394097/-2.0465595
Greyhope Bay
Natural: bay
Lat/Long: 57.1406963/-2.0510549
Source: PGS
Lat/Long: 57.1376845/-2.0482696
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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