Portlethen

Portlethen (/pɔːrtˈlɛθən/; Scottish Gaelic: Port Leathain) is a town located approximately 7 miles south of Aberdeen, Scotland along the A92. The population according to the 2011 census was 7,130 [3] making it the seventh most populous settlement within Aberdeenshire.

Portlethen
Portlethen is located in Aberdeenshire
Portlethen
Portlethen
Location within Aberdeenshire
Population8,940 (mid-2020 est.)[2]
OS grid referenceNO9178396318
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townABERDEEN
Postcode districtAB12 4xx
Dialling code01224
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

To the east of Portlethen lie three fishing villages: Findon, Downies and Portlethen Village (now often referred to as Old Portlethen). Although Portlethen has been granted official town status,[4] it resembles a residential suburb without a clear 'town centre' or focal point.

Geography

Portlethen is a coastal town lying along the North Sea coast. Portlethen is located in the historic county of Kincardineshire.

History

Portlethen is located half a mile inland from the small fishing village now known as Old Portlethen.[5]

An inlet on the North Sea at Portlethen, historically used as Portlethen Harbour.

Portlethen lies about two kilometres east of the ancient Causey Mounth road which was the only available medieval route from coastal points south to Aberdeen. This ancient passage connected the Bridge of Dee with Muchalls Castle and Stonehaven to the south.[6]

Battle of Portlethen. In November 1780 during the wars with France the British army used fencible regiments for home defence. The Sutherland Fencibles armed with muskets engaged in action with the crew of armed with muskets and Swivel guns of a French privateer. The engagement was reported in the newspapers of the period.

On 2 September 1799 George Auldjo of Portlethen offered for safe at the New Inn, Aberdeen 'LOT 1. Is to consist of the Lands and Barony of PORTLETHEN, Mill, Mill-lands, Multures and sequels, Sea-port, Haven and Harbour of Portlethen, with the tolls, duties, customs, and anchorages thereof, and White-fishing in the sea adjacent to said lands.' [7]

Nature Reserve
Main article: Portlethen Moss

Much of modern-day Portlethen has been built over the Portlethen Moss Nature Reserve, formerly home to the great crested newt. The remainder of Portlethen Moss is approximately one quarter of the size it was twenty years ago.[8] Portlethen Moss Conservation Group was created to preserve the area.[9]

Amenities

Retail
Portlethen Retail Park

Portlethen has four main shopping areas: Portlethen Retail Park,[10][11] The Green, Muirend Court and Rowanbank Court. There is an Asda superstore in Portlethen Retail Park along with an Aldi and two McColl's convenience stores located at The Green and Rowanbank Court. Other outlets in the town include Argos, Matalan.

Food & drink

There are a variety of take-away and restaurant outlets in Portlethen, most of these are located within the main shopping areas. There is also a Brewers Fayre pub restaurant next to the A92 dual carriageway near Badentoy Park called The Mains of Balquharn. There are four pubs in Portlethen; the Mains of Balquharn, The Paddock (at The Green), The Leathan and The Neuk (in Portlethen Village). Portlethen Golf Club also has a bar open to the public.

White-beaked dolphins south east of Old Portlethen. Whale and dolphin watching is a popular attraction in summer.

Sport

Portlethen has two all-weather concrete tennis courts, a bowling green with public and private sessions, a swimming pool and a private members' golf club. It is also home to the Lethen Archers club.

Swimming pool

The pool is 25 metres long and was opened on 29 June 1991 by Olympic swimmer Ian Black.[12][13] Portlethen swimming pool is the regular meeting place of the Reef Rats underwater hockey club.[14]

Portlethen Golf Club

Portlethen Golf Club was founded in 1981, and opened in 1989. The club's first professional player was Muriel Thomson: the first female golf professional in Scotland. In December 2014 she was succeeded by Stuart Wilson.

The course is a 6,663 yards par 72 with two par 3s and two par 5s in each half. The club has a clubhouse and practice facilities, including a covered driving range, practice bunkers, short-game area and putting green.

In 2011, Portlethen won the Aberdeen and District Pennant League for the first time. The 2012 Club Champion was Keith Horne, who went on to win the North East Champion of Champions Trophy. Clark Brechin was Club Champion in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. Kevin Daglish was the club champion in 2015.

Other amenities

A Youth drop-in centre was opened in April 2007, in the old library building.[15] There also various youth groups running regularly at Portlethen Parish Church[16] and Jubilee Hall.[17]

There are two main parks in Portlethen: Bourtree Park and Nicol Park. Nicol Park has a toddlers park, a skate park and two basketball courts. Bourtree Park has a football pitch, a few swings and climbing frames.

There is a community library and community centre located within Portlethen Academy.[18][19] The Social Work offices of Aberdeenshire Council for the local area are located within Portlethen.[20]

Education

There has been a school in Portlethen since the nineteenth century.[21] The original school building (used until 1860) is now the local police station.

Portlethen Primary School opened in 1962.[22]

Portlethen Academy opened in 1987. The school was relocated to a new building in 2006.[23] Fishermoss School, opened in 1989. Hillside Primary School opened in March 2017.

Transport

Portlethen is next to the A92. It has a train station. Stagecoach operate bus services to/from Portlethen.

Community Council

The Portlethen & District Community Council (PDCC) monthly in Portlethen Academy, normally on the fourth Tuesday of each month and considers many issues including development proposals and transport. Meetings are open to the public and offer an opportunity to raise topics of relevance to the local community.

Portlethen Gala is a social and community event held every summer on the last Saturday in August.

Notable people

See also
  • Looking towards to Portlethen from the coasts of Findon Ness
    Looking towards to Portlethen from the coasts of Findon Ness
  • Portlethen Harbour and the North Sea
    Portlethen Harbour and the North Sea
  • Skerry of Craigmaroinn
    Skerry of Craigmaroinn
  • Mains of Portlethen Gated entrance
    Mains of Portlethen Gated entrance
  • Craigmarn Road Street
    Craigmarn Road Street
  • A pig of Old Portlethen
    A pig of Old Portlethen

References
  1. "Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba – Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland – Database". Gaelic Placenames. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  2. "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  3. "Portlethen Profile" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  4. "ScotlandsPlaces - Portlethen Populated Place". Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  5. "About". Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  6. "C.Michael Hogan, Causey Mounth, Megalithic Portal, ed. by Andy Burnham, 2007". Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  7. "For Sale". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 12 August 1799. p. 1.
  8. "Rough Comparison image". Portlethen Moss. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  9. "Portlethen Moss; (Proposed) Local Nature Reserve". Portlethen Moss. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  10. "Portlethen Retail Park, Aberdeen". Completely Retail. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  11. Tait, Kirstin (4 October 2021). "Olympic hero to open new Aldi store in Portlethen this month". Evening Express. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  12. "Portlethen plunging success". The Press and Journal. 12 July 1991. p. 38. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  13. Pacitti, Katherine (1 July 1991). "Olympic swimmer christens Portlethen's new pool". The Press and Journal. p. 6. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  14. House, Ellie (24 May 2020). "In at the deep end: It's a game of hockey - but not as you know it". Press and Journal. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  15. "Aberdeenshire Council - News Release: Youth drop-in centre to open in Portlethen". Archived from the original on 14 December 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  16. "Youth Ministry". Portlethen Parish Church. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  17. "New Page 2". Old Portlethen.
  18. "Aberdeenshire Council - Portlethen Library". Archived from the original on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  19. "Aberdeenshire Council - Community Learning and Development - Community Centres". Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  20. "Aberdeenshire Council - Living Independently - Local Social Work Offices". Archived from the original on 19 November 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  21. "Portlethen, Schoolhouse | ScotlandsPlaces". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  22. Gossip, Shona (24 March 2015). "Portlethen Primary to be capped to tackle overcrowding". Press and Journal. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  23. "Welcome to Portlethen Academy". Archived from the original on 8 March 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  24. "Evening Express - Article - Magicians Barry and Stuart are prime time stars". Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  25. "The Grampian Television Studios". Archived from the original on 16 November 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
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