Collieston to Whinnyfold Coast

Also within

Aberdeenshire County

Condition (NatureScot)

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Coastal

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

COLLIESTON TO WHINNYFOLD COAST Collieston and Whinnyfold are located on the east coast of Aberdeenshire about 15 km south of Peterhead. This section of coast is important for geology and for coastal habitats and seabird colonies. GEOLOGY Dalradian The well-exposed coast section between Collieston and Whinnyfold demonstrates the nature of early folding in the some of the youngest Dalradian rocks seen in the North-east Grampian Highlands. These Collieston Formation beds lie in the lower part of the Southern Highland Group and comprise turbiditic, originally sandy and muddy, psammites, semipelites and pelites. ‘Bouma sequences’ that typify turbidite successions can easily be recognized. The rocks are folded into a large, composite, recumbent syncline. Numerous smaller-scale anticlines and synclines have axes that plunge gently to the north and axial planes that dip gently to the north-east. The beds become younger eastwards and hence the folds face east. Much of the succession lies on the upper inverted limb of the main syncline, as is shown by the graded bedding. The Collieston-Whinnyfold folds may represent the most north-easterly exposed extent of the Tay Nappe, although the structure here seems to have reduced amplitude. The more-pelitic rocks contain abundant cordierite, and andalusite is present in all but the lower grade north-eastern part of the section. The site is of crucial importance in terms of regional interpretations of the Dalradian sequence and structure and lends itself to further study as well as providing an excellent teaching section. BIOLOGY Birds Several headlands within this site support large colonies of cliff-nesting seabirds, in particular kittiwake, guillemot, razorbill and fulmar, with smaller numbers of puffin. Habitats The coastal slopes have interesting species-rich grasslands and flushes. Possibly due to the local microclimate and relatively fertile soils, these contain several plants which are scarce or rare in north-east Scotland, including carline thistle Carlina vulgaris, cowslip Primula veris and the most northerly population of sea wormwood Artemisia maritima in Britain.

Species mentioned

Insects to look out for

These moths and butterflies are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.

Hostplant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation (Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.