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.

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).