63-818: Cruden Bay is a small village in Scotland, on the north coast of the Bay of Cruden in Aberdeenshire , 26 miles (42 km) north of Aberdeen . Just west of Slains Castle , Cruden Bay is said to have been the site of a battle in which the Scots under King Malcolm II defeated the Danes in 1012. Traditionally, the name was derived from the Gaelic Croch Dain ('slaughter of Danes'). Today, Cruden Bay attracts tourists with its hotels and golf course. It has
126-402: A dormitory village for the important settlements of Peterhead to the north and Aberdeen to the south. The eighteenth century timbered salmon station still operates and some seasonal commercial fishing continues. Cruden Bay has a medium-sized primary school . Secondary pupils are bussed to nearby Peterhead Academy. There are a few small shops, a chemist/newsagent, a post office/hardware,
189-499: A bad year in 1905, with the Aberdeen Palace's net profit falling and Cruden Bay making a loss for the second year in succession: with revenue of £7,480 against costs, including interest payments, of £8,184. Mr Trenchard had gone, and Miss Williams, manager of Bruce's Hotel, Carnoustie , was appointed at £100 a year plus 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 % of net annual profits as an incentive to keep costs down. The Company had tried to sell
252-521: A bracing place far north on the east coast. From a large ordnance map and the geological formations, he knew that some such place must lie between Peterhead and Aberdeen. Accordingly, he went to Peterhead and walked down the coast, and when he saw Cruden he telegraphed to his family to come on to the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel. Mr Stoker has been there every summer since then, and hopes some day to have at Cruden his own pied-à-terre . Because he
315-434: A craft shop and a general store. There is also a Chinese takeaway, a medical surgery and a library. There are also many sports facilities, tennis courts, and two football pitches. The school and public hall house a number of youth groups such as Girlguiding UK. There is a Congregational Church in the village centre and just outside the village there is a Scottish Episcopalian Church and a Church of Scotland parish. Cruden Bay
378-468: A high standard, in keeping with the hotel: the Glasgow Herald (newspaper, now retitled The Herald described the station as extremely handsome, with ornamental gables and panel work, separate first class waiting rooms for ladies and gentlemen, a refreshment buffet, and a carriage verandah outside. The hotel was still under construction at the time of opening of the railway. In fact the opening of
441-595: A lease of the Cruden Bay Hotel, but none of the large chains were attracted.<ross168> Trains on the Boddam line stopped at all stations, and the number of services never exceeded five in each direction. After the opening of the Cruden Bay Hotel, improved connections were given by the acceleration of trains on the Buchan section. Through services to and from Aberdeen were inaugurated in the summer of 1899, with
504-544: A long, unspoiled, beach made famous by Norwegian aviator Tryggve Gran who made the first solo flight across the North Sea . The village has associations with various figures in literature. Dr Samuel Johnson and James Boswell were guests at Slains Castle in 1773. Johnson said that "no man can see with indifference" the sea chasm known as the Bullers of Buchan , which is near the village. Dun Bay, or Yellow Rock
567-432: A morning train in each direction, running non-stop between Ellon and Aberdeen. The down train was withdrawn in the autumn of 1899 and never reinstated, but the up service survived as a summer-only feature. Although efforts were made to popularise the hotel and the golf course, and to develop Port Errol, the results were most disappointing. Moreover the fish traffic from Boddam failed to come up to expectations. In April 1899
630-592: A party of directors and engineers to the Isle of Man to inspect the electric and light railways there, with a view to making a tramway connection between the hotel and the railway station. On 14 September 1898 the Company decided to construct an electric tramway, together with a laundry and an additional lift in the hotel, and a dynamo for electric power. The tramway needed to cross the main Newburgh - Port Erroll road, and
693-527: A year, though Miss McKilliam was in overall charge, and a golf professional, Alex N Weir formerly of Arbroath, was appointed, at £70 a year. The opening day was 1 March 1899. The 3ft 6 + 1 ⁄ 2 in gauge tramway opened in June. It operated on 500-volt DC current from the hotel's 33 kW generator, A laundry was built on the site; it also served the needs of the Palace Hotel, Aberdeen, as well as those of
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#1732798737009756-582: Is also near the Bullers of Buchan , and is associated with Walter Scott 's The Antiquary . Bram Stoker was a regular visitor between 1892 and 1910. An article in the Buchan Observer from 1897 discusses how he discovered the village: Cruden has an enthusiastic friend in Mr Bram Stoker, Sir Henry Irving’s manager. Mr Stoker (says a London correspondent), made the acquaintance of the district – as he tells me – by accident. He wanted to find
819-409: Is at Bullers o' Buchan. A number of well built bridge buttresses are still standing for the railway and for overbridges. The photo has one of many similar looking overbridges. The remaining evidence of station sites is slim, some having been built on. The station hotel at Hatton remains while a goods shed there was demolished in 2012. All stationmasters' houses exist today. Walking the full length of
882-457: Is estimated at £3,496M (2011), representing 5.2% of the Scottish total. Aberdeenshire's economy is closely linked to Aberdeen City's (GDP £7,906M), and in 2011, the region as a whole was calculated to contribute 16.8% of Scotland's GDP. Between 2012 and 2014, the combined Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City economic forecast GDP growth rate is 8.6%, the highest growth rate of any local council area in
945-549: Is headquartered at Woodhill House in Aberdeen , making it the only Scottish council whose headquarters are located outside its jurisdiction. Aberdeen itself forms a different council area (Aberdeen City). Aberdeenshire borders onto Angus and Perth and Kinross to the south, Highland and Moray to the west and Aberdeen City to the east. Traditionally, it has depended economically on the primary sector (agriculture, fishing, and forestry) and related processing industries. Over
1008-462: Is much higher, at £741.90, as many people commute out of Aberdeenshire, principally into Aberdeen City. Total employment (excluding farm data) in Aberdeenshire is estimated at 93,700 employees (Business Register and Employment Survey 2009). The majority of employees work within the service sector, predominantly in public administration, education and health. Almost 19% of employment is within
1071-473: Is not far from the towns of Ellon and Peterhead, and is about 30 minutes drive from Aberdeen City. Holiday makers are served by 2 hotels, a pub and bed and breakfasts. Attractions for visitors include the beach, the golf course of the Cruden Bay Golf Club (ranked #29 nationwide ). Although there is little evidence of its presence other than a small complex a few miles south of the village,
1134-564: Is the locus of a large number of Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeological sites, including Longman Hill , Kempstone Hill , Catto Long Barrow and Cairn Lee . The area was settled in the Bronze Age by the Beaker culture , who arrived from the south around 2000–1800 BC. Stone circles and cairns were constructed predominantly in this era. In the Iron Age , hill forts were built. Around
1197-630: The Anglo-Norman penetration, other families arrive, such as House of Balliol , Clan Bruce , and Clan Cumming (Comyn). During the Scottish Wars of Independence , the King of England Edward I travelled across the area twice with his invading army, in 1296 and 1303. In 1307, Robert the Bruce was victorious near Inverurie . These new families set the stage for the upcoming rivalries during
1260-543: The Gordon Highlanders , in some cases arriving and departing by troop train on the line. The tramway ceased operation on 31 December 1940. The Cruden Bay Hotel was handed back to the railway company by the autumn of 1945. The premises were then advertised for sale, but no definite offers were received. Eventually, it was decided that the heavy cost of maintaining the hotel was not justified, and in July 1947 it
1323-558: The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 . It covers the combined area of the Banff and Buchan, Gordon, and Kincardine and Deeside districts that had been created in 1975. The present Aberdeenshire Council area therefore consists of all of the historic counties of Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire (except the area of those two counties making up Aberdeen City), as well as the north-east portions of Banffshire. The population of
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#17327987370091386-704: The Mounth (a spur of mountainous land that extends from the higher inland range to the North Sea slightly north of Stonehaven ) through present-day Aberdeenshire from the Scottish Lowlands to the Highlands . Some of the most well known and historically important trackways are the Causey Mounth and Elsick Mounth . Aberdeenshire played an important role in the fighting between the Scottish dynasties . Macbeth fell at Lumphanan in 1057. During
1449-490: The North Sea such that coastal areas are typically cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than inland locations. Coastal areas are also subject to haar , or coastal fog. Boddam Branch The Boddam Branch Line was a 15-mile branch railway line constructed by the Great North of Scotland Railway (GNoSR) from Ellon railway station to Boddam in Aberdeenshire. It opened in 1897. As well as serving
1512-563: The Presbyterian Church dedicated to Saint Olaf or commonly called the Old Kirk—built in 1776, with distinctive conical towers added in 1833—and Saint James Episcopal Church , notably the first structure designed by architect William Hay on top of Chapel Hill in 1842. Port Erroll developed as a fishing community to some extent but the tidal nature of the harbour restricted the size of craft which could operate from it and
1575-534: The Rising of 1715 and the Rising of 1745 . The latter resulted in the end of the ascendancy of Episcopalianism and the feudal power of landowners. An era began of increased agricultural and industrial progress. The present council area is named after the historic county of Aberdeenshire , which has different boundaries and ceased to be used for local government purposes in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 . The pre-1975 territory of Aberdeenshire
1638-779: The University of Fraserburgh (1592). During the 17th century, Aberdeenshire was the location of more fighting, centred on the Marquess of Montrose and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms . This period also saw increased wealth due to the increase in trade with Germany , Poland , and the Low Countries . After the end of the Revolution of 1688 , an extended peaceful period was interrupted only by fleeting events such as
1701-444: The historic county of Aberdeenshire , which had substantially different boundaries. The Aberdeenshire Council area includes all of the areas of the historic counties of Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire except the area making up Aberdeen City Council area, as well as part of Banffshire . The historic county boundaries are still officially used for a few purposes, namely land registration and lieutenancy . Aberdeenshire Council
1764-656: The 14th and 15th centuries. This rivalry grew worse during and after the Protestant Reformation when religion was another reason for conflict between the clans. The Gordon family adhered to Catholicism and the Forbeses to Protestantism . Aberdeenshire was the historic seat of the clan Dempster . Three universities were founded in the area prior to the 17th century, King's College in Old Aberdeen (1494), Marischal College in Aberdeen (1593), and
1827-548: The 1st century AD, the Taexali people, who left little history, were believed to have resided along the coast. The Picts were the next documented inhabitants of the area and were no later than 800–900 AD. The Romans also were in the area during this period, as they left signs at Kintore . Christianity influenced the inhabitants early on, and there were Celtic monasteries at Old Deer and Monymusk . Since medieval times, there have been many traditional paths that crossed
1890-536: The County Council agreed to a level crossing. The estimated cost of this enhancement was £9,005. Two single-deck four-wheel tramcars were built at the GNoSR Kittybrewster workshops in 1899; in addition there was an open trailer for carrying coal, and two bogie cars for carrying boilers and other heavy articles. The line opened for traffic on 2 August 1897. The Cruden Bay station was built to
1953-668: The Formartine and Buchan Railway was poor, and with several others, the Company was absorbed by the GNoSR in 1866. The Fraserburgh and Peterhead lines became known as The Buchan Lines . In 1891 the GNoSR purchased the Palace Hotel in Aberdeen, close to the station premises there. It had been built in 1874, and the GNoSR set about modernising it, installing electric lighting and hydraulic lifts ; it reopened in August 1891. The arrangement
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2016-409: The GNoSR generally. The tariff for August and September was 15s per day on the first floor, 14s on the second floor, 12s on the third floor and 10s 6d on the fourth, inclusive of breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner; provision of a [coal] fire in the room cost extra. After five months of operation the results were described as "most encouraging" and the hotel committee decided to keep it open though
2079-463: The GNoSR was criticised when it issued cheap fares for Sunday travel, so enabling golfers to desecrate the Sabbath by playing on the new course at Cruden Bay. But the newspaper reporter felt that people would be "just as well employed in playing golf on Sundays as loafing about church doors and annoying worshippers as they are complained of doing in Aberdeen". On 1 November 1932, the passenger service
2142-498: The Sea (1902). James Macpherson 's poem The Highlander (1758) takes the battle of Cruden as its model. Earliest nearby human traces are evident in nearby Catto Long Barrow , a massive stone structure now surrounded by agricultural fields. The nearby cliff top Slains Castle was begun in 1597 and partly demolished in the 1920s. Bishop's Bridge spans Cruden Water and dates from 1697. William Hay, 18th Earl of Erroll , established
2205-521: The UK and above the Scottish rate of 4.8%. A significant proportion of Aberdeenshire's working residents commute to Aberdeen City for work, varying from 11.5% from Fraserburgh to 65% from Westhill. Average Gross Weekly Earnings (for full-time employees employed in workplaces in Aberdeenshire in 2011) are £572.60. This is lower than the Scottish average by £2.10 and a fall of 2.6% on the 2010 figure. The average gross weekly pay of people resident in Aberdeenshire
2268-734: The UK. In 2011, 82.2% of residents identified as 'White Scottish', followed by 12.3% who are 'White British', whilst ethnic minorities constitute only 0.9% of the population. The largest ethnic minority group is Asian Scottish/British at 0.8%. In addition to the English language, 48.8% of residents reported being able to speak and understand the Scots language. The largest settlements in Aberdeenshire are: 19,060 14,660 12,570 12,110 11,150 10,070 8,940 7,440 4,700 4,700 4,550 4,000 3,890 3,830 3,140 3,120 3,050 3,010 2,920 2,800 Aberdeenshire's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
2331-472: The United Kingdom. There was to be a golf course, spa, sea bathing and other attractions. In 1893 Parliamentary powers were obtained for the purpose. The location at Cruden Bay was considered to be perfect, but the nearest railway station was at Ellon , on the Formartine and Buchan line, about 10 miles distant. Accordingly there would need to be a new railway branch line from Ellon to Cruden Bay. It
2394-649: The branch line was discontinued in 1932 and the hotel itself was requisitioned by the military at the outset of World War II ; it never re-opened to the public. The goods service on the branch closed at the end of 1948. The GNoSR had a main line from Aberdeen to Keith , and had encouraged local privately owned companies to build connecting branch lines. On that basis the Formartine and Buchan Railway Company built branch lines from Dyce to Peterhead and Fraserburgh , in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Those lines opened in stages from 1861 to 1865. The financial performance of
2457-432: The council area has risen over 50% since 1971 to approximately 263,750 in 2022, representing 4.7% of Scotland's total. Aberdeenshire's population has increased by 9.1% since 2001, while Scotland's total population grew by 3.8%. The census lists a relatively high proportion of under 16s and slightly fewer working-age people compared with the Scottish average. Aberdeenshire is one of the most homogeneous/indigenous regions of
2520-486: The expense of heavy gradients. Clearly the dominant reason for making the branch line was access to the hotel. The hotel was provisionally named the Port Erroll Hotel, although this was later changed to the Cruden Bay Hotel. It was to have 55 bedrooms, and be constructed of pink Peterhead granite; the estimated cost was £16,000, with additional costs of £5,000 for lifts, heating, furnishings and grounds. It
2583-451: The fishing community of Port Erroll in the 1840s and 1850s. A functional harbour at the mouth of the Water of Cruden was added in the 1870s. Before that a tiny, long-abandoned hamlet of rudimentary fisher cottages, simply known as Ward, stood exposed on top of Ward Hill, just above the harbour site. There was also a parish school since 1606, housed in the two-storey Erroll Schoolhouse from 1834;
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2646-404: The hotel was deferred until 1899, though the golf course had been laid out and was in use. In late December 1898 a special train of "luxurious bogie saloons" [modern railway coaches] had taken directors and guests to view the almost-finished hotel. The company promoted the hotel vigorously, with advertisements for the "New Seaside and Golfing Resort". Miss Kate Campbell was appointed manager, at £100
2709-402: The last 40 years, the development of the oil and gas industry and associated service sector has broadened Aberdeenshire's economic base, and contributed to a rapid population growth of some 50% since 1975. Its land represents 8% of Scotland's overall territory. It covers an area of 6,313 square kilometres (2,437 sq mi). Aberdeenshire has a rich prehistoric and historical heritage. It
2772-566: The line is impossible, as some sections have been removed entirely (particularly where the line crossed the A90 and A975 ), several extant sections are fenced prohibiting access and other sections are thick with bushes. Sections that can be done include Hatton to Bogbrae and a section around the Burn of Forvie. Grampian Transport Museum reconstructed one of the tramcars and placed it on exhibition there. The Campaign for North East Rail has proposed
2835-783: The public sector. Aberdeenshire's economy remains closely linked to Aberdeen City's and the North Sea oil industry, with many employees in oil-related jobs. The average monthly unemployment (claimant count) rate for Aberdeenshire in 2011 was 1.5%. This is lower than the average rate of Aberdeen City (2.3%), Scotland (4.2%) and the UK (3.8%). The following significant structures or places are within Aberdeenshire: There are numerous rivers and burns in Aberdeenshire, including Cowie Water , Carron Water , Burn of Muchalls , River Dee , River Don , River Ury , River Ythan , Water of Feugh , Burn of Myrehouse , Laeca Burn and Luther Water . Numerous bays and estuaries are found along
2898-430: The railway have been taken down, including the substantial Cruden Bay viaduct, although three pillars of it remain standing. One large bridge remains, spanning the Water of Cruden at Bridgend. Numerous culverts are remaining, possibly five or more are over small burns between Pitlurg and Hatton, one is over the Water of Cruden at Nethermill, one is over the smaller burn at Cruden Bay, and another, which can be walked through,
2961-409: The route of the line was not preserved as it closed far earlier. That said, few parts of the line are built on and many farms have not gone to the trouble of levelling the ground on the route. Most of the route is still visible, with several embankments, cuttings and road overbridges still in situ along the route (however many have been backfilled to allow farm access). Most of the bridges which carried
3024-500: The sands at Cruden Bay is the place where the 110-mile (180 km) long Forties pipeline operated by Ineos , in use from 1975, finds landfall. It pumps crude oil from the Forties oilfield to Whinnyfold, then by overland pipeline to Grangemouth . Aberdeenshire Aberdeenshire ( Scots : Aiberdeenshire ; Scottish Gaelic : Siorrachd Obar Dheathain ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland . It takes its name from
3087-615: The seacoast of Aberdeenshire, including Banff Bay , Ythan Estuary , Stonehaven Bay and Thornyhive Bay . Aberdeenshire has a marine west coast climate on the Köppen climate classification . Aberdeenshire is in the rain shadow of the Grampians , therefore it has a generally dry climate for a maritime region, with portions of the coast receiving 25 inches (64 cm) of moisture annually. Summers are mild, and winters are typically cold in Aberdeenshire; Coastal temperatures are moderated by
3150-518: The small fishing port of Boddam and nearby stone quarries, it connected to the Cruden Bay Hotel , a luxurious resort hotel established and operated by the GNoSR. As a United Kingdom railway-owned resort hotel, the hotel was an unusual development. The remote location of the hotel and the short season, led to poor financial performance of the hotel; the other hoped-for traffics of the branch line were also disappointing. The passenger service on
3213-557: The time came when all concerned wished it had never been made." In fact the hotel was beset with a heavy turnover of management, indicating intrinsic problems; Miss Campbell had resigned in 1900 and her successor, Miss Frater, was dismissed in 1901 for failing to keep provision costs down. A new manager, Mr Trenchard of the Claremont Hydropathic Hotel, Rhyl , was appointed in February 1902 at £130. The hotels had
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#17327987370093276-539: The village missed out on the herring boom. Tourism provided another source of income for the village. Even before the coming of the railway, the long pink curve of the Bay of Cruden sands and scenic cliffscapes to the north were attracting visitors and a small seaside resort was grafting itself onto the fishing community. The Cruden Bay Golfing Society, founded in 1791, played on the open links. The railway brought grandeur but not lasting prosperity, to Cruden Bay. The Boddam branch line from Ellon to Boddam near Peterhead
3339-457: The winter, at a reduced rate of £2 10s per week. The hotel results may have been "most encouraging" but Barclay-Harvey, talking about the branch line as a whole, says that: Despite the fact that the hotel was very comfortable and the golf course one of the best in Scotland, the whole undertaking was a disastrous one. The season was too short to make them profitable, and the railway, which passed through comparatively poor country, never paid, and
3402-495: Was a part-time writer, his Cruden Bay holidays provided him with the largest amount of spare time to write his books. He stayed at the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel in 1892 and 1894, and thereafter in cottages in Cruden Bay and Whinnyfold . The early chapters of Dracula were written in Cruden Bay, and possibly most of the rest of it was too. He also set two novels in and around the village, The Watter's Mou' (1895) and The Mystery of
3465-430: Was a period of rapid population decline for Cruden Bay but the coming of North Sea oil to north-east Scotland, with its attendant jobs and families looking for places to settle, reinvigorated the village; thereafter, the population rose again, with new housing added near the defunct brickworks, the site of the demolished Cruden Bay Hotel and along the water of Cruden at Morrison Place. These days Cruden Bay serves mainly as
3528-413: Was closed to passengers in 1932 and in 1939 the hotel was requisitioned as an army hospital and not re-opened after the war and demolished around 1950. Cruden Bay remains a golfing destination and the village sustains three smaller hotels. Although the harbour area and the local primary school are still styled "Port Errol", the railway adventure put the name Cruden Bay firmly on the map. The 1950s and 1960s
3591-576: Was considered a success, and in October 1892 the Board decided to establish a new hotel. This was to be on Cruden Bay , at Port Errol; it was to be a resort hotel, that is, a destination in itself. The concept of a resort hotel, in many cases a " hydropathic " establishment, had become fashionable. The Canadian Pacific Railway had opened one in Banff in 1888, but the GNoSR was leading the field in doing so in
3654-479: Was hoped that the District Council would provide water and sewerage connections, but in the end the railway company provided this itself at a cost of £1,200. Lighting was to be by paraffin lamps, but "if a laundry is erected, electric lighting can be provided at a probable outlay of £1,000 for a dynamo and wiring". The laundry and the electrical supply were in fact installed. In August 1898 the GNoSR sent
3717-482: Was opened in 1897, along with the golf course and the 55-bedroom Cruden Bay Hotel two years later. The Cruden Bay Hotel Tramway was added linking the station and hotel. The Great North of Scotland Railway Company promoted Cruden Bay as a Brighton of the North, only twelve hours from London and an ideal escape for gentry and nouveau riche ; despite initial enthusiasm, neither railway nor hotel prospered. The railway
3780-422: Was planned to continue the line for five miles beyond Cruden Bay to reach the small fishing town of Boddam . Charles Brand was the contractor for the railway construction, and his firm began work on 8 September 1893. With granite quarries to be served, the Boddam fishery, and the Cruden Bay brickworks, as well as the proposed hotel, the 15-mile line was regarded as a safe project. The engineering works were light, at
3843-455: Was sold to a demolition contractor. The work of clearing the site was not completed until 1952. Freight service was withdrawn in November 1945 and the line was subsequently used for wagon storage. In November 1946 there was said to be 4189 wagons in storage on the line awaiting repair. The branch line was completely closed on 31 December 1948. Unlike the Formartine and Buchan Railway,
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#17327987370093906-459: Was then split between four of the five new districts in the Grampian region: Banff and Buchan (which also included eastern parts of Banffshire, including its county town of Banff ), Gordon , Kincardine and Deeside (which also included most of Kincardineshire), and Aberdeen City. Local government functions were shared between the two levels. The modern council area was created in 1996 under
3969-404: Was withdrawn on the "unsuccessful" branch to Boddam. The hotel tramway ceased passenger operation at the same time; hotel visitors were offered a motor car service from Aberdeen station. The tramway continued to carry stores and laundry to and from the hotel's laundering facilities. During World War II , the hotel was closed to the public, and requisitioned in 1940 as a Field Training Centre for
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