Alford, Aberdeenshire
Encyclopedia
Alford is a large village in Aberdeenshire
, north-east Scotland
, lying just south of the River Don
. It lies within the Howe of Alford (also called the Vale of Alford) which occupies the middle reaches of the River Don.
The place-name is thought to come from the Scots "auld ford"; its original position being on the banks of the Don. The "L" sound in the word has, over time, been dropped, and is silent. Alternatively, the name could be a tautology; a combination of 'Ath' and 'ford', both meaning 'ford' in Gaelic and Scots respectively. Alford gave its name to a battle of the Battle of Alford
(1645). It is also the home of the world popular Aberdeen Angus cattle
breed, which is celebrated by a life-sized model of a bull on the edge of the town. It is believed that the original breeding ground of the cattle was Buffal, located between Tough (Tulloch) and Craigievar nearby Alford. Another claim to fame for the town is the world famous Alford Oatmeal, ground at Montgarrie, just outside the town.
Probably due to Alford's relative isolation and large catchment area, there are a large number of services in the village, including three banks, a supermarket, three garages, a bakery and a wide range of other shops. There is also a dry ski slope (one of only a handful in Scotland) with open sessions for the public, ski lessons are available and the whole slope can be hired for tubing parties (very popular with the kids). There is a swimming pool and a public library.
The Alford Valley Railway, Grampian Transport Museum
, Alford Heritage Centre and Craigievar Castle
are popular visitor attractions, with a range of other archaeological sites, stone circles, and castles (including Balfluig Castle, Castle Fraser
and Drum Castle
) being within easy reach by road. Situated in Alford, Haughton Country Park is a large and popular green space with a caravan park and woodland walks. The 18 hole Alford Golf Club is an attractive and pleasant course which has a large local membership.
, approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) away. There is much new housebuilding going on in Alford to cater for a workforce who mainly commute in Aberdeen to work in the oil industry. Bus services are operated by Stagecoach with dialabus services being operated by Aberdeenshire Council. Bus services connecting Alford to Aberdeen go by two different routes:
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...
, north-east 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...
, lying just south of the River Don
River Don, Aberdeenshire
The River Don is a river in north-east Scotland. It rises in the Grampians and flows eastwards, through Aberdeenshire, to the North Sea at Aberdeen. The Don passes through Alford, Kemnay, Inverurie, Kintore, and Dyce...
. It lies within the Howe of Alford (also called the Vale of Alford) which occupies the middle reaches of the River Don.
The place-name is thought to come from the Scots "auld ford"; its original position being on the banks of the Don. The "L" sound in the word has, over time, been dropped, and is silent. Alternatively, the name could be a tautology; a combination of 'Ath' and 'ford', both meaning 'ford' in Gaelic and Scots respectively. Alford gave its name to a battle of the Battle of Alford
Battle of Alford
The Battle of Alford was an engagement of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, which took place near the village of Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on 2 July 1645....
(1645). It is also the home of the world popular Aberdeen Angus cattle
Angus cattle
Angus cattle are a breed of cattle much used in beef production. They were developed from cattle native to the counties of Aberdeenshire and Angus in Scotland, and are known as Aberdeen Angus in most parts of the world....
breed, which is celebrated by a life-sized model of a bull on the edge of the town. It is believed that the original breeding ground of the cattle was Buffal, located between Tough (Tulloch) and Craigievar nearby Alford. Another claim to fame for the town is the world famous Alford Oatmeal, ground at Montgarrie, just outside the town.
Probably due to Alford's relative isolation and large catchment area, there are a large number of services in the village, including three banks, a supermarket, three garages, a bakery and a wide range of other shops. There is also a dry ski slope (one of only a handful in Scotland) with open sessions for the public, ski lessons are available and the whole slope can be hired for tubing parties (very popular with the kids). There is a swimming pool and a public library.
The Alford Valley Railway, Grampian Transport Museum
Grampian Transport Museum
Grampian Transport Museum is based in Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.Major exhibits include the world's oldest Sentinel Steam Waggon from 1914, a giant Mack Snowplow and a Jaguar XKR used in the James Bond film, Die Another Day...
, Alford Heritage Centre and Craigievar Castle
Craigievar Castle
Craigievar Castle is a pinkish harled castle six miles south of Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was the seat of Clan Sempill. The setting is among scenic rolling foothills of the Grampian Mountains...
are popular visitor attractions, with a range of other archaeological sites, stone circles, and castles (including Balfluig Castle, Castle Fraser
Castle Fraser
Castle Fraser is the most elaborate Z-plan castle in Scotland and one of the grandest 'Castles of Mar'. It is located near Kemnay in the Aberdeenshire region of Scotland. The castle stands in over of landscaped grounds, woodland and farmland which includes a walled kitchen garden of the 19th...
and Drum Castle
Drum Castle
Drum Castle is a castle near Drumoak in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. For centuries it was the seat of the chief of Clan Irvine. The place-name Drum is derived from Gaelic druim, 'ridge'....
) being within easy reach by road. Situated in Alford, Haughton Country Park is a large and popular green space with a caravan park and woodland walks. The 18 hole Alford Golf Club is an attractive and pleasant course which has a large local membership.
Public transport
There is a bus service connecting with AberdeenAberdeen
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 ....
, approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) away. There is much new housebuilding going on in Alford to cater for a workforce who mainly commute in Aberdeen to work in the oil industry. Bus services are operated by Stagecoach with dialabus services being operated by Aberdeenshire Council. Bus services connecting Alford to Aberdeen go by two different routes:
- the X15/215 goes via Westhill
- the 220 goes via KintoreKintore, AberdeenshireKintore is a town and former royal burgh near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, now bypassed by the A96 road between Aberdeen and Inverness. The name Kintore comes from the Gaelic, Ceann Tòrr. Ceann means the head, or the end, and Tòrr means a round hill. So the name signifies that the town...
.
Notable residents
- Alford is the birthplace of the renowned poet, Charles MurrayCharles Murray (poet)Charles Murray was a poet who wrote in the Doric dialect of Scots. He was born and raised in Alford in north east Scotland. However he wrote much of his poetry while living in South Africa where he spent most of his working life as a successful civil engineer...
. - Stewart Milne, chairman of both the Stewart Milne Group and Aberdeen Football Club was born nearby and attended school in Alford
- Alford is also the birthplace of the person who played the most games for Rangers F.C.Rangers F.C.Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, Douglas Herbert GrayDougie GrayDouglas Herbert Gray was a Scottish footballer who spent his entire senior career with Rangers.Born in Alford, Aberdeenshire, Gray joined the Ibrox club from Aberdeen Mugiemoss in June 1925. A full back, he played for the club 490 times between 1925 and 1947, earning ten league championship and...
, who played 948 games for the team. - Lord ForbesLord ForbesLord Forbes is the senior Lord of Parliament in the Peerage of Scotland. The title was created sometime after 1436 for Alexander de Forbes, feudal baron of Forbes. The precise date of the creation is not known, but in a Precept dated July 12, 1442, he is already styled Lord Forbes. Brown's 1834...
, of Forbes Castle - William McCombieWilliam McCombieWilliam McCombie , Scottish agriculturist, was born at Tillyfour, Aberdeenshire, where he founded the herd of black-polled cattle with which his name is associated...
, Pioneer Aberdeen Angus Breeder. - Emeli SandeEmeli SandéAdele Emeli Sandé , known by her stage name Emeli Sande, is a Scottish R&B and Soul recording artist and songwriter, from Aberdeen, Scotland...
A singer from AlfordAlford-Places:Australia*Alford, South AustraliaCanada*Alford, SaskatchewanEngland*Alford, Lincolnshire**Alford Manor House**Alford Windmill**Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Alford*Alford, Somerset*Alford CrosswaysScotland*Alford, Scotland...