Alford, Aberdeenshire

Alford (pronounced /ˈɑːfərd/ ⓘ  Scots: Aaford or Awfort, Scottish Gaelic: Athfort) is a large village in Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland, lying just south of the River Don. It lies within the Howe of Alford (also called the Vale of Alford) which occupies the middle reaches of the River Don.

Alford
Alford is located in Aberdeenshire
Alford
Alford
Location within Aberdeenshire
Population2,610 (mid-2020 est.)[4]
OS grid referenceNJ5716
• Edinburgh90 mi (145 km)
• London409 mi (658 km)
Council area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townAlford
Postcode districtAB33
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

The place-name is thought to come from the Scots auld ford; its original position being on the banks of the Don. The "L" sound in the word has, over time, been dropped, and is silent. Alternatively, the name could be a tautology; a combination of ath and ford, both meaning 'ford' in Gaelic and Scots respectively. Alford gave its name to a battle of the Battle of Alford (1645). It is also the home of the Aberdeen Angus cattle breed, which is celebrated by a life-sized model of a bull on the edge of the village, which the Queen Mother inaugurated in 2001.[5] It is believed that the original breeding ground of the cattle was Buffal, located between Tough (Tulloch) and Craigievar nearby Alford. Another claim to fame for the town is Alford Oatmeal, ground at Montgarrie, just outside the town. Alford also sports the Alford Community Campus, with a library and pool.

The Alford Valley Railway, Grampian Transport Museum, Alford Heritage Museum and Craigievar Castle are popular visitor attractions, with a range of other archaeological sites, stone circles, and castles (including Balfluig Castle, Castle Fraser and Drum Castle) being within easy reach by road. One stone circle, originally believed to be prehistoric, turned out to be a 20-year-old replica.[6] Situated in Alford, Haughton Country Park is a large and popular green space with a caravan park and woodland walks.

Sport

Alford Golf Club opened on 15 May 1981. Initially a nine-hole course, it reopened as an eighteen-hole course in May 1992.[7][8][9]

Public transport

Alford railway station was the former terminus of the closed Alford Valley Railway branch line.

There is a bus service connecting with Aberdeen, approximately 26 miles (42 km) away. There is much new housebuilding going on in Alford as of 2006 to cater for a workforce who mainly commute in Aberdeen to work in the oil industry. Bus services are operated by Stagecoach, with dial-a-bus services being operated by Aberdeenshire Council. Bus services connecting Alford to Aberdeen go by two different routes:

Notable residents

References
  1. "Rannsaich an Stòr-dàta Briathrachais Gàidhlig" (in Scottish Gaelic). .smo.uhi.ac.uk. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  2. Scots Language Centre: Scottish Place Names in Scots
  3. The Online Scots Dictionary.
  4. "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  5. Davies, Caroline (11 October 2001). "Queen Mother helps to unveil statue of a bull". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  6. Metcalfe, Tom; January 21, Live Science Contributor |; ET, 2019 02:33pm (21 January 2019). "'Ancient' Stone Circle Actually Built in 1990s by Scottish Farmer". Live Science. Retrieved 24 January 2019. {{cite web}}: |first2= has generic name (help)
  7. Third, Paul (5 May 2022). "Alford Golf Club's 40th anniversary: Steward who has been there since day one reflects on club's journey". Press and Journal. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  8. Beattie, Kieran. "Pensioner hit in head by golf ball as he walked down Aberdeenshire street". Press and Journal. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  9. Wyllie, James. "Alford Golf Club manager 'succumbed to temptation' by embezzling £12,000". Press and Journal. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
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