Aboyne
Encyclopedia
Aboyne is a village
on the edge of the Highlands
in Aberdeenshire
, Scotland
, on the River Dee
, approximately 30 miles (48.3 km) west of Aberdeen
. It has a rugby club, which plays on The Green and also has a swimming pool, a golf course with 18 holes, all-weather tennis courts, and a bowling green. Aboyne Castle
and the Loch of Aboyne
are nearby.
Aboyne has many businesses, including a supermarket (Co-op), two banks, several hairdressers, a butcher, a newsagent, an Indian
restaurant and a post office. Originally, there was a railway station
in the village, but it was closed on 18 June 1966. The station now contains some shops and the tunnel running under the village is now home to a firearms club. The market-day in Aboyne was known as Fèill Mhìcheil (Scottish Gaelic for "Michael's Fair").
of the Grampian Mountains to the south
.
.jpg)
In summer, when tourists visit, the number of people and vehicles increase dramatically. The Highland Games
on The Village Green is a notable feature in August and the population of the village doubles. However, Aboyne is unusual in having The Green on which events are held, as the village was modeled by one of the first Marquesses of Huntly (inhabitants of Aboyne Castle) on a traditional English village with a green at the centre. Few Scottish towns have such an asset.
The British
Royal Family
are residents in nearby Balmoral Castle
during the Summer.
There are many outdoor pursuits available including walking, cycling, and most notably, gliding from the airfield just outside the village. Aboyne has become extremely popular with gliding
enthusiasts from all over the UK and Europe due to its uniquely suitable air currents
(due to the surrounding terrain). The airfield has a webcam and small weather monitoring centre on its premises. It is the only gliding airfield in Scotland to boast of having a tarmac runway, of which it has two in parallel which run east-west.
The close-by pass of Ballater
is a popular rock-climbing area. The village of Dinnet
is a few miles west and is the first being located inside the famous Cairngorms National Park. Walkers and cyclists can ascend Mount Keen
by cycling as far as they can from Glen Tanar forest before walking to the summit.
There are also many more leisurely activities, such as sitting at local cafes and viewing various attractions. Aboyne is also a good place for younger children, as there is a large green which includes facilities for rugby and football and a play park.
There are two schools, an academy and a primary school. The academy has around 650 pupils, about a third from Aboyne itself, with the remaining two thirds from surrounding villages. The school has access to a full size swimming pool and gym run by the adjacent Deeside Community Centre.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
on the edge of the Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, on the River Dee
River Dee, Aberdeenshire
The River Dee is a river in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It rises in the Cairngorms and flows through Strathdee to reach the North Sea at Aberdeen...
, approximately 30 miles (48.3 km) west of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
. It has a rugby club, which plays on The Green and also has a swimming pool, a golf course with 18 holes, all-weather tennis courts, and a bowling green. Aboyne Castle
Aboyne Castle
Aboyne Castle is a 13th century castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland north of the town of Aboyne...
and the Loch of Aboyne
Loch of Aboyne
Loch of Aboyne is a freshwater loch in Scotland. An artificially-formed loch created within the policies of Aboyne Castle on Royal Deeside, the Loch of Aboyne lies 1¼ miles northeast of Aboyne and 26 miles west southwest of Aberdeen. Retained by an earthen dam constructed c.1834, this shallow...
are nearby.
Aboyne has many businesses, including a supermarket (Co-op), two banks, several hairdressers, a butcher, a newsagent, an Indian
Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine consists of thousands of regional cuisines which date back thousands of years. The dishes of India are characterised by the extensive use of various Indian spices, herbs, vegetables and fruit. Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society...
restaurant and a post office. Originally, there was a railway station
Aboyne railway station
Aboyne railway station was a station which served Aboyne in the Scottish county of Aberdeenshire. It was served by trains on the line from Aberdeen to Ballater.-History:...
in the village, but it was closed on 18 June 1966. The station now contains some shops and the tunnel running under the village is now home to a firearms club. The market-day in Aboyne was known as Fèill Mhìcheil (Scottish Gaelic for "Michael's Fair").
History
The locale was inhabited since very early times with the west wing of Aboyne Castle dated to 1671 AD. The siting of the castle itself is related to the limited number of the crossings of the MounthMounth
The Mounth is the range of hills on the southern edge of Strathdee in northeast Scotland. It was usually referred to with the article, i.e. "the Mounth". The name is a corruption of the Scottish Gaelic monadh which in turn is akin to the Welsh mynydd, and may be of Pictish origin...
of the Grampian Mountains to the south
.
Tourism and culture
Highland games
Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &(-è_çà in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain...
on The Village Green is a notable feature in August and the population of the village doubles. However, Aboyne is unusual in having The Green on which events are held, as the village was modeled by one of the first Marquesses of Huntly (inhabitants of Aboyne Castle) on a traditional English village with a green at the centre. Few Scottish towns have such an asset.
The British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Royal Family
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
are residents in nearby Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle is a large estate house in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is located near the village of Crathie, west of Ballater and east of Braemar. Balmoral has been one of the residences of the British Royal Family since 1852, when it was purchased by Queen Victoria and her...
during the Summer.
There are many outdoor pursuits available including walking, cycling, and most notably, gliding from the airfield just outside the village. Aboyne has become extremely popular with gliding
Gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
enthusiasts from all over the UK and Europe due to its uniquely suitable air currents
Lee waves
In meteorology, lee waves are atmospheric standing waves. The most common form is mountain waves, which are atmospheric internal gravity waves...
(due to the surrounding terrain). The airfield has a webcam and small weather monitoring centre on its premises. It is the only gliding airfield in Scotland to boast of having a tarmac runway, of which it has two in parallel which run east-west.
The close-by pass of Ballater
Ballater
Ballater is a burgh in Aberdeenshire, Scotland on the River Dee, immediately east of the Cairngorm Mountains. Situated at a height of 123m in elevation, Ballater is a centre for hikers and known for its spring water, once said to cure scrofula.-History:The medieval pattern of development along...
is a popular rock-climbing area. The village of Dinnet
Dinnet
Dinnet is a village in the Marr area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Approximately equidistant from Deeside towns Aboyne and Ballater and situated on the main A93 road in the valley of the River Dee, it is said to be the gateway to both the Highlands and the Cairngorms...
is a few miles west and is the first being located inside the famous Cairngorms National Park. Walkers and cyclists can ascend Mount Keen
Mount Keen
Mount Keen is a 939 m high mountain in Scotland and the most easterly Munro. It can be accessed from several directions, South from Glen Mark, North from Glen Tanar, and East to Braid Cairn. It is a moderate walk which is most popularly started by mountain bike, riding through the native...
by cycling as far as they can from Glen Tanar forest before walking to the summit.
There are also many more leisurely activities, such as sitting at local cafes and viewing various attractions. Aboyne is also a good place for younger children, as there is a large green which includes facilities for rugby and football and a play park.
There are two schools, an academy and a primary school. The academy has around 650 pupils, about a third from Aboyne itself, with the remaining two thirds from surrounding villages. The school has access to a full size swimming pool and gym run by the adjacent Deeside Community Centre.