11 February 2021

First section of new Stonehaven boardwalk completed

The first section of an impressive new boardwalk at Stonehaven has been opened to the public.

Stretching from the harbour car park to Salmon Lane and the River Carron, the new section is already proving popular with pedestrians.

Work is meantime continuing on the final section which will connect the seafront walkway to the bridge over the River Carron.  Other minor enhancements are still to be undertaken and will be carried out in the coming weeks. 

The works have been undertaken by an Aberdeenshire based contractor, CRC who have worked through difficult weather conditions to complete the works in a timely and professional manner.

The Stonehaven Flood Protection Scheme works are continuing and part of that process will involve replacement of the bridge over the river which will connect with the wooden boardwalk on both sides of the river.

Two new seating areas have also been created with informal landscaping and planting to be undertaken in due course. 

Plans are also well advanced to erect new finger-pointer signs along the seafront from the open-air pool to the harbour as well as new information and interpretation boards along this stretch. 

This will provide background information on the many attractions the town has to offer and the natural sealife which inhabits the rivers and seashore, as well as historical facts on the rich heritage for which Stonehaven is famed.

The replacement of the boardwalk has been possible by a £265,000 grant awarded from the Aberdeenshire Town Centre Fund, with monies allocated from the Scottish Government’s 2019/2021 Town Centre Fund.  Additional funding was also secured from the Coastal Communities Fund (£30,000) and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) (£45,000) to further enhance the seafront by providing the new seating areas, finger-pointer signage and information and interpretation boards.

Stonehaven’s existing boardwalk was installed around 20 years ago, but had reached the end of its life with boards becoming loose and broken which was creating additional costly repairs and maintenance.

The joint initiative has been led by the Stonehaven Town Centre Improvement Group comprising Stonehaven & District Community Council, Stonehaven Town Partnership, Stonehaven Business Association, Stonehaven Tourism Group, Horizon, Stonehaven Men’s Shed and Aberdeenshire Council.

Chair of the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee, Cllr Wendy Agnew, said: “I am delighted to see this first section of the new boardwalk open and it has already become very popular with the local community enjoying some healthy exercise in the bracing weather we are experiencing.

“I look forward to seeing the project being completed and, once we have emerged from the ongoing Covid restrictions in the fullness of time, welcoming visitors back to our wonderful town to enjoy all the amenities it offers.”

NESFLAG (North East Scotland Fisheries Local Action Group) is funded by the European Union’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the Scottish Government.