The final journey

Yesterday I blipped a gathering of cattle, or nowt as they call them hereabouts. When the time comes for them to go on their last journey to the slaughterhouse, it will be by road.

This scene to the south of the village of Maud is a reminder that it was not always so; it shows part of the the route of a railway line built between 1861 and 1865 by the Formartine and Buchan Railway Company. These days, Maud is an attractive, sleepy little place, but not so long ago it was a busy and important railway town. Maud Junction station was where the single track line north from Aberdeen split into two routes, to the coastal town stations of Peterhead and Fraserburgh. The auction mart in the village was the source of Aberdeenshire beef cattle for transport to all parts of Great Britain. Maud Junction was the major railhead for the transport of  cattle from N. E. Scotland. Thousands upon thousands of cattle have passed under this bridge on their way to their fate.


Passenger services on the Buchan lines were withdrawn in 1965 as part of the Beeching cuts. Freight trains continued to operate to Peterhead until 1970 and Fraserburgh until 1979. The beautiful Formartine and Buchan Way long-distance footpath now follows the lines of the old track.


This morning we received a salutary reminder (see the extra photo) that we too are staggering ever closer to the edge of a crumbling cliff. We came down to find, on our doormat,  a flyer from the local undertaker (they call themselves funeral directors these days, but to me they will always be undertakers!). Does he know something that we don't or is this a general mail-shot to one and all, regardless of age? Why are they advertising, surely business must be just as steady and regular as it as always been?