Menie
Encyclopedia
Balmedie is a rapidly growing village in Aberdeenshire
in Scotland
. It lies north of the city of Aberdeen
, in the civil parish
of Belhelvie
. The long and wide beach of clean golden sand is bordered by an extensive dune system that stretches 14 miles (22.5 km) from Aberdeen to just north of the Ythan Estuary
at Newburgh
. The dunes are a substantial area of stable grassland
where the principal vegetation is marram grass
. They support a large array of wildlife. Two watercourses make their way to the sea within the area creating ribbons of wetland vegetation along their course. The area lies within the Sands of Forvie
Site of Special Scientific Interest
, the fifth largest sand dune system in Britain.
established its Barratt Homes North Scotland headquarters in Balmedie. Stagecoach East Scotland
provides 'Bluebird' bus services linking Balmedie to Aberdeen
, Ellon
, Fraserburgh
and Peterhead
.There are four small play parks in Balmedie there are also two full sized football pitches where amateur side Trophies International play their home matches.
Local people use the beach more than anyone for walks or jogging in the fresh air. The dunes are wonderful places for finding a sunny and sheltered spot to read in, or sunbathe on a fair day, or for games of hide and seek.
The park is open during the hours of daylight every day of the year. Over the years the beach has won a number of awards.
There is an unofficial naturist area on the beach, a stretch of the beach behind the Blackdog Firing Range, Google Maps. Access can be gained by walking down the beach towards Aberdeen from the Balmedie Country park car park, or by access through the firing range. Range in use is designated by Red Flags flying in various areas around the range. Naturism Balmedie, Official British Naturism Website
. Formerly owned by Sandra and Tom Griffin, American billionaire Donald Trump
purchased a large part of the estate in 2006. He proposes to build an extensive development there, including two 18-hole golf course
s, a 450-room hotel, conference centre and spa, 36 golf villas, 950 holiday homes, accommodation for 400 staff and residential developments comprising 500 houses. Although this would substantially damage habitat
at a Site of Special Scientific Interest
, according to analysis by Scottish Natural Heritage
, planning officials from Aberdeenshire Council have recommended approval of the development.
The current Baron
of Menie is notable film and television aviation consultant Michael Woodley, best known for his role as aerial coordinator in numerous James Bond
films. He succeeded to the title in 1995 through grant of arms.
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...
in 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...
. It lies north of the city 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 ....
, in the civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Belhelvie
Belhelvie
Belhelvie is a small village and civil parish in Aberdeenshire in Scotland. The parish has a population of 3,802, of which 1,653 are in the village. It was the site of a suspected water pollution incident in 2006.-Notable people:...
. The long and wide beach of clean golden sand is bordered by an extensive dune system that stretches 14 miles (22.5 km) from Aberdeen to just north of the Ythan Estuary
Ythan Estuary
The Ythan Estuary is the tidal component of the Ythan River, emptying into the North Sea approximately north of Aberdeen, Scotland. The estuary’s tidal action extends a full inland and has characteristic widths of between and . Besides the tidal channel there are several types of interfaces to...
at Newburgh
Newburgh, Aberdeenshire
Newburgh is a coastal village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The village dates to 1261 AD, when Lord Sinclair wanted to establish a chapel in the area. Originally built as a school, somewhat later the chapel of Holy Rood was established.-Geography:...
. The dunes are a substantial area of stable grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
where the principal vegetation is marram grass
Marram grass
Ammophila is a genus consisting of two or three very similar species of grasses; common names for these grasses include Marram Grass, Bent Grass, and Beachgrass...
. They support a large array of wildlife. Two watercourses make their way to the sea within the area creating ribbons of wetland vegetation along their course. The area lies within the Sands of Forvie
Sands of Forvie
The Sands of Forvie is a nature reserve north of Newburgh in Aberdeenshire in the northeast of Scotland. Forvie National Nature Reserve has the fifth largest sand dune system in Britain, and the least disturbed by human activity. The dune system is an integral part of the Ythan Estuary and...
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
, the fifth largest sand dune system in Britain.
Balmedie Village
The village facilities include a primary school, a small library and a sports centre. Shops include a small supermarket, a pharmacy, a fish and chip shop and a convenience store/post office. Other services include a car mechanic, a cafe/gallery and the White Horse Inn Hotel, Bar and Restaurant. In 2007 Barratt DevelopmentsBarratt Developments
Barratt Developments PLC is one of the largest residential property development companies in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1958 as Greensitt Bros. but control was later assumed by Sir Lawrie Barratt. It was originally based in Newcastle upon Tyne but is now located at David Wilson's former...
established its Barratt Homes North Scotland headquarters in Balmedie. Stagecoach East Scotland
Stagecoach East Scotland
Stagecoach East Scotland is an operating region of Stagecoach UK Bus, with its regional base in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland and including the legal companies Bluebird Buses Ltd, Fife Scottish Buses Ltd,Stagecoach Ltd, Strathtay Scottish Omnibuses Ltd, JW Coaches Ltd and Rennie's of Dunfermline Ltd.-...
provides 'Bluebird' bus services linking Balmedie to 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 ....
, Ellon
Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Ellon is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately north of Aberdeen, lying on the River Ythan which has one of the few undeveloped river estuaries on the Eastern coast of Scotland. It is in the ancient region of Formartine...
, Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland with a population recorded in the 2001 Census at 12,454 and estimated at 12,630 in 2006. It lies at the extreme northeast corner of Aberdeenshire, around north of Aberdeen, and north of Peterhead...
and Peterhead
Peterhead
Peterhead is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is Aberdeenshire's biggest settlement , with a population of 17,947 at the 2001 Census and estimated to have fallen to 17,330 by 2006....
.There are four small play parks in Balmedie there are also two full sized football pitches where amateur side Trophies International play their home matches.
Balmedie Country Park
The Country Park provides amenities within the dunes for visitors, including parking, toilets, wooden walkways across the sands and streams, picnic areas with barbecues, and a swing park with a fishing theme for children. The park is often used by horse riders as a starting / finishing point for beach rides and there is plenty of room to park a horsebox or trailer.Local people use the beach more than anyone for walks or jogging in the fresh air. The dunes are wonderful places for finding a sunny and sheltered spot to read in, or sunbathe on a fair day, or for games of hide and seek.
The park is open during the hours of daylight every day of the year. Over the years the beach has won a number of awards.
There is an unofficial naturist area on the beach, a stretch of the beach behind the Blackdog Firing Range, Google Maps. Access can be gained by walking down the beach towards Aberdeen from the Balmedie Country park car park, or by access through the firing range. Range in use is designated by Red Flags flying in various areas around the range. Naturism Balmedie, Official British Naturism Website
Menie estate
Menie House, a grand 14th century country property surrounded by over 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of private land, collectively known as the Menie EstateEstate (house)
An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion. It is the modern term for a manor, but lacks the latter's now abolished jurisdictional authority...
. Formerly owned by Sandra and Tom Griffin, American billionaire Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
purchased a large part of the estate in 2006. He proposes to build an extensive development there, including two 18-hole golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
s, a 450-room hotel, conference centre and spa, 36 golf villas, 950 holiday homes, accommodation for 400 staff and residential developments comprising 500 houses. Although this would substantially damage habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
at a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
, according to analysis by Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Natural Heritage is a Scottish public body. It is responsible for Scotland's natural heritage, especially its natural, genetic and scenic diversity. It advises the Scottish Government and acts as a government agent in the delivery of conservation designations, i.e...
, planning officials from Aberdeenshire Council have recommended approval of the development.
The current Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
of Menie is notable film and television aviation consultant Michael Woodley, best known for his role as aerial coordinator in numerous James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
films. He succeeded to the title in 1995 through grant of arms.