Coastal sand dunes extend north from Aberdeen for more than 14 miles, one of the largest areas of dunes in the UK, and the least affected by human activity. This reserve has wildlife hides and waymarked trails through the dunes to an abandoned medieval village where only the ruins of a church survive. The dunes form an important nesting and feeding area for birds – don't wander off the trails during the nesting season (April to August).
Donald Trump sparked a major controversy when he opened Trump International Golf Links in 2012, amid a "protected" area of sand dunes at Menie, 4 miles south of Forvie. Planning permission for a second course was granted in 2020, further splitting the community between those who welcome the potential economic benefits, and conservationists worried about the environmental damage.
