Aberdeenshire’s Vice Lord Lieutenant yesterday officially opened a new north-east tourist trail, four-years in the making.
Members of the Boddam Community Association invited Joyce Mackie to the ceremony at Stirlinghill, on the outskirts of Boddam village.
The group has spent four years creating a network of walking routes around the area with the aim of enticing walkers and visitors to the area.
From the now easily-accessible Stirlinghill, tourists can look out upon some of Buchan’s most dramatic coastline.
Yesterday association chair Betty May said: “Today we mark the occasion of completing what has been something of a marathon in providing this extensive recreational facility for Boddam and the surrounding area.
“With more than a mile of footpaths installed, along with the stairway and tarring of the car park and a polished granite seat at the cairn viewpoint, it has all been very time-consuming but an exciting project.
“We made steady progress over four years but with our eyes firmly fixed on the goal.”
The work, which focused on the Den Dam, Hill of Boddam and the nearby former flint mines, was carried out in stages.
The first phase involved the installation of an information board, fingerposts and a commemorative Diamond Jubilee Plaque, set in granite.
An old shelter, once used to store explosives for a local quarry, was also restored as a rest-stop.
Phase two featured the creation of granite steps, leading down to the picturesque Den Dam, which is regularly used by a local yacht club.
The third and final leg of the programme included adding a further 3,000ft of paths from the dam to existing footways.
Association member and former Aberdeenshire councillor Sam Coull said: “All of our plans are aimed towards making Boddam a pleasant getaway for a holiday break.
“Our access pathways fit in with the local authority’s Coastal Footpath strategy which will in turn make it easier for bird watchers to access the bird colonies along the cliffs to Cruden Bay.
“Then there’s another existing footpath going north to Sandford Bay and Peterhead. Our visitors will be spoiled for choice.”
Earlier this year the project was given a huge funding boost when waste management giant Sita donated £20,000 as part of their community investment.