From the edge of Aberdeen, the route follows a former railway line for 26 miles through rolling farmland to the village of Maud, where it splits to reach one of two destinations on the North Sea coast. One branch goes east for 15 miles to the busy fishing port of Peterhead, the other heads north for 16 miles to the seaside town of Fraserburgh. The route is entirely off-road and relatively flat. National Cycle Network Route 1 also uses sections of the route between Dyce and Newmachar and between Auchnagatt and Maud.