9k Run Peterhead: Scenic Historic Loop Along Old Railway

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 8.7km out-and-back route offers a fast, flat, and remarkably steady run along the historic Peterhead to Longside railway corridor. Starting from York Street, runners will enjoy an 80% paved surface that is ideal for tempo sessions or a consistent long-distance burn without the interference of steep gradients. With a negligible vertical gain of just 22 meters, this is one of Aberdeenshire’s most accessible paths for those looking to bank some miles on a reliable, non-technical terrain that stays relatively sheltered even when the North Sea winds pick up.

Steeped in industrial heritage, this path follows the tracks of the former Formartine and Buchan Railway, a line that once linked the "Blue Toon" of Peterhead to the rest of Scotland’s bustling rail network. As you head toward the terminus at the historic Longside Airfield—a former WWI and WWII base—you are literally running through the backbone of local history. Keep an eye out for the remaining railway embankments and the surrounding pastoral landscape that transitions from the town’s edge into the quiet, expansive agricultural heart of the Buchan area.