Aboyne

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Aboyne
scots_name= Obyn
gaelic_name= Abèidh
population= 2,202 [cite web|publisher=Scotland's Census Results Online|title =Comparative Population Profile: Aboyne Locality | url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=aboyne&mainLevel=Locality | date = 2001-04-29| accessdate =2008-08-31 ] (2001 census)
est. 2,180 [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data] (2006)
os_grid_reference= NO527986
latitude=57.076617
longitude=-2.779493
map_type=Scotland
unitary_scotland= Aberdeenshire
lieutenancy_scotland=Aberdeenshire
constituency_westminster= West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
constituency_scottish_parliament= West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
post_town= ABOYNE
postcode_district = AB34
postcode_area= AB
dial_code= 013398

Aboyne (Scottish Gaelic: "Abèidh") is a village on the edge of the Highlands in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the River Dee, approximately 30 miles (48km) west of Aberdeen. It has a rugby club, which plays on The Green and also has a swimming pool, a golf course with 18 holes, all-weather tennis courts, and a bowling green. Aboyne Castle and the Loch of Aboyne are nearby.

Aboyne has many businesses, including a supermarket (Co-op), [ [http://www.cooponline.coop/cgi-bin/external/locator.cgi?page=further&OfflineID=12536&category=Food&postcode=aboyne Aboyne location map] ] two banks, several hairdressers, a butcher, a newsagent, an Indian restaurant, another restaurant called the Candlestick Makers and a post office. Originally, there was a railway station in the village, but it was closed on 18 June, 1966. The station now contains some shops and the tunnel running under the village is now home to a firearms club. The market-day in Aboyne was known as "Fèill Mhìcheill" (Scottish Gaelic for "Michael's Fair").

History

The locale was inhabited since very early times with the west wing of Aboyne Castle dated to 1671 AD. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=MGQLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA120&dq=aboyne+castle#PPA121,M1 John Mackintosh, "History of the Valley of the Dee, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day"] ] The siting of the castle itself is related to the limited number of the crossings of the Mounth of the Grampian Mountains to the south. [ [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18037 C. Michael Hogan, "Elsick Mounth", Megalithic Portal, ed A. Burnham, 2007] ]

Tourism and culture

In summer, when tourists visit, the number of people and vehicles increase dramatically. The Highland Games on the village green is a notable feature in August, and the population of the village doubles. However, Aboyne is unusual in having The Green on which events are held, as the village was modelled by one of the first Marquesses of Huntly (inhabitants of Aboyne Castle) on a traditional English village with a green at the centre. Few Scottish towns have such an asset. The British royal family is resident in nearby Balmoral Castle during the summer.

There are many outdoor pursuits available including walking, cycling, and, most notably, gliding from the airfield just outside the village. Aboyne has become extremely popular with gliding enthusiasts from all over the UK and Europe due to its uniquely suitable air currents (due to the surrounding terrain). The airfield has a webcam [ [http://www.meto.gov.uk/weather/europe/uk/webcam/aboyne/ Aboyne Airfield Webcam] ] and small weather monitoring centre [ [http://www.meto.gov.uk/weather/europe/uk/obs/aboyne.html Aboyne meteorological data] ] on its premises. It is the only gliding airfield in Scotland to boast tarmac runway, of which it has two in parallel which run east-west.

The pass of Ballater is a popular rock-climbing area, and indeed the village of Dinnet a few miles west is the first being located inside the famous Cairngorms National Park. Walkers and cyclists can ascend Mount Keen by cycling as far as they can from Glen Tanar forest, before walking to the summit of Mount Keen.

There are also many more leisurely activities, such as sitting at local cafes and viewing various attractions. Aboyne is also a good place for younger children, as there is a large green which includes facilities for rugby and football and a play park.

There are two schools, an academy and a primary school. The academy has around 650 pupils, about a third from Aboyne itself, with the remaining two thirds from surrounding villages. The school has access to a full size swimming pool and gym, run by the Deeside Community Centre, which is attached to the school.

References

External links

* [http://www.aboyneacademy.com Aboyne Academy Website]
* [http://www.scottishrugby.org/sru/community-rugby/club-rugby/aboynerfc Aboyne Rugby Football Club hosted at the SRU]
* [http://www.aboyne-rfc.co.uk Aboyne Rugby Football Club]
* [http://www.aboynedinnetchurch.org.uk Aboyne-Dinnet Church]
* [http://deesideglidingclub.co.uk/ Deeside Gliding Club]
*

In the News

* Tornado fighter jet and glider [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/4760827.stm airprox] .
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/5167612.stm Glider crash] near Braemar after having taken off from Aboyne.