Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire is a maritime county of northeastern Scotland, within the Commonwealth of England, bounded on the north and east by the North Sea; south by Angusshire and Perthshire; west by Invernessshire; and northwest by Banff. The county's greatest length, from northeast to southwest, is 85 mi.; it's extreme breadth is 40 mi., with an area of 1,971 sq.m. There are 60 mi. of coastline.

The seat of government is located in Aberdeen, the county's largest city. The climate is cold but less subject to extreme low temperaturs than counties farther south and farther inland. The population of the country (c.1650), 35,582.

Earldoms

The county is divided into the five earldoms of Mar, Garioch, Strathbogie, Fromartine and Buchan. Mar is in the southwest and south, along the Dee River and south of the Don. Garioch is north of the Don and west of Kintore. Strathbogie lies northwest of Garioch, with its southern tip touching the northern boundary of Mar. Fromartine is the area east of Garioch and south of the river Ythan. The northeast district, north of the Ythan, east of the Deveron and upper Strathbogie, is Buchan.

Upper Mar is wild, rugged and mountainous, but towards the east and northeast the surface is gentler, though much of it is moorish and barren. There are extensive forests, mostly fir, productive of much fine timber. The rivers Don and Dee both rise in Mar. Located in Mar, in the time period, Balmoral "castle" consists of a tower house and a hunting lodge. At the termination of a deep glen in Strathdee is the Pass of Ballater, the eastern entrance into the Grampians.

Buchan consists mainly of the area along the north and east coasts; it is less hilly. Much of its forest have been cut down, but the main of the earldom is still well wooded. Though previously the ancient domain of the earls of Buchan, in 1320 Robert Bruce divided the land among his adherents. Later, in 1601, the title was revived in the Erskine family, but without restoration of lands.

The other three districts of Aberdeenshire are, in general, well cultivated. The county is comparatively level toward the coast, but much of the interior is among the wilderness of the Central Highlands.

Cairngorm Mountains

These form the eastern part of the more extensive Grampian Mountains of Scotland. Located in southwesternmost Banff, westernmost Aberdeen, and that part of eastern Invernessshire adjoining these two counties. Ben Macdhui (4,296 ft.), the second highest peak in Scotland, is just within the Banff border. Cairntoul (4,241) and Cairn Eas (3,556) are wholly within Aberdeen. Braerich (4,248) is on the Inverness-Banff line. Beinn-a-Bhuird (3,924), Ben Avon (3,843), Carnmor (2,636) and Buck of Cabrach (2,368) all rise along the Banff-Aberdeen boundary.

Aberdeen and Perth meet at a line connecting the summits of Sgarsach (3,300), Carn Bhac (3,014), Ben Uarn (3,424) and Cairnwell (3,059). The peaks of Cairn-na-Glasha (3,484), Tolmount (3,143), Broad Cairn (3,268), Keen (3,077) and Hill of Cat (2,435) mark the Angus-Aberdeen border. The higher peaks are in western Banff and Aberdeen and, in general, the summits decline as one follows these boundaries eastward. Other prominent Aberdeenshire peaks are Lochnager (3,786), Morven (2,862), Bennachie (1,619) and Tap o'North (1,852).

Water Features

The Don River rises in west central Aberdeenshire near the Banff border, flows east, then southeast to the sea, two or three miles north of Aberdeen. The course of the Dee is wholly in the south of the county. Rising in the Cairngorms, it traverses the vale of Strathdee and, near Braemar, forms the waterfall known as the Linn of Dee. Then the Dee changes its course, from southeast to east-northeast, enters Kincardine for about 12 mi., and reaches the sea at Aberdeen city.

The source of the Deveron is Strathbogie in the north. The stream flows generally northeast, first through Aberdeenshire and, having constituted the Aberdeen-Banff border in four separate places, never for longer than five miles at a stretch, reaches the North Sea at the city of Banff. The Ythan flows southeasterly o reach the sea between Peterhead and Aberdeen. The Ugie's course is eastward across northern Aberdeenshire to its mouth near Peterhead. These five are all salmon rivers, but are too rapid and shallow to be navigable.

Kildrummy Castle, still intact and occupied in 1650, the ancient seat of the earls of Mar, is located on the Don. Pannanich Wells, a romantically situated watering place and spa, is on the Dee. The county's most sizable lakes are Loch Muick, 2¼ mi. long and 256 ft. deep, near the Angus border; and Strathbeg Lough, near Rattray Head on the coast.

The bold, rocky coast is quite regular, especially from Peterhead to Aberdeen, and lacks deep lochs or inlets. The main headlands are Troup Head; Kinnairds Head, at Fraserburgh; Rattray Head, between Fraserburgh and Peterhead; and More Head. Gamrie Bay and Cruden Bay are chief among the rare coastal indentations.

People

The inhabitants of Aberdeenshire are characteristically different from other Scots. Their dialect differs in its slow pronunciation and broad accent. The physiognomy of the coastal inhaibtants is distinct from that of Aberdonians elsewhere. As people they are active, vigorous and enterprising.

Fraserburgh is a small village on the northeast coast of but 283 persons, but is a mere 70 years old; it is nonetheless a supply port for herring fishing. Peterhead, in Buchan, is even small, but 189 people; it is a mile south of the mouth of the Ugie. Peterhead has one of the finest and safest harbours on the east coast of Scotland.

Goods & Services

Aberdeen is the most important market^4R in the county; Peterhead is a market also. These markets together produce building stone and copious amounts of granite^5R, red sandstone and slate. Gems include cairngorm^3R, beryl and topaz. Masonry is an important trade.

Among foodstuffs, there are brewing, distilling^2R, beef and dried fish. In addition to spinning, cotton cloth^3R, linen, sailcloth, burlap and wool cloth are woven, and woolens are made. Hides^2R are an important export.

Fir^2R trees are cut into lumber for shipbuilding^5R. Pulp and cloth is turned into paper and paper products^2R.

Fields grow barley, oats and hay, along with turnips. Cattle and sheep raising occur. The greatest supply of food comes from fish, especially herring^4R and salmon^2R.