A collaborative four-year project between six countries has culminated in a 4,000-km (2,485-mile) coastal path called the North Sea Trail or Nortrail.

The waymarked track encourages visitors and locals to access coastal areas of Scotland, England, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Holland – all which border the North Sea.

The EU-supported project – led by Aberdeenshire Council – involved 26 local authorities.

A new organisation called The Friends of the North Sea Trail will help maintain the trail as well as the trail’s website, which explains the historical trading and cultural links between the countries involved.

A digital guidebook – containing maps and more than 1,200 articles illustrating why the natural and cultural environment around the North Sea coastline is special – can also be downloaded in several languages.

It is hoped that a DVD will also be launched, pending further EU support.

In the UK, the pathway starts near Scarborough in the North York Moors National Park, before continuing up the east coast to Aberdeenshire.

Aberdeenshire Council has produced a series of 38 pocket-sized walking maps showing the coastal path, features of interest and the coastal bus route.

A signposted coastal car trail, developed by the council in association with VisitScotland, and a coastal cycle route are also shown.

The maps can be obtained from tourist information centres in coastal towns and villages throughout Aberdeenshire or downloaded from the council’s website.

VisitScotland’s area director for Aberdeen and Grampian, Ian Dunlop, said: “We’re very pleased to see new maps and guides for the North Sea Trail’s Aberdeenshire Coastal Path and will be promoting them through our centres.

“These guides provide very useful and comprehensive information for visitors, so they can fully enjoy the excellent walking that can be found along our beautiful coastline.” Details: www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk or www.northseatrail.org