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Aboyne is a Village in northeast Scotland,
32 miles west of Aberdeen, 11 miles east of Ballater.
Aboyne is popular for its Walks around the
Village, Aboyne Castle Estate with a Cathedral
for Prize Cows, Aberdeen Water Ski &
Wakeboard Club at the Loch of Aboyne 1 mile
east, Fishing at the Loch of Aboyne,
Glen Tanar
Estate for Fishing & Shooting, Deeside Activity Park
4 miles northeast, Deeside Distillery by the
Activity Park, number of Walks in the
area, and Mount Keen most
easterly Munro. Mountain
Photos.
For Images on Mobile swipe right
Click On Map for area Attractions
Camping & Touring Parks in
area
The image top is of the vast Aboyne Green,
or Charlestown Green, with the Aboyne Parish
Church right and Village centre left of the
Church. The Aboyne Highland Games are held here
in late July or early August.
Aboyne centre has a number of Local Shops
and the Huntly Arms
Hotel, built from 1770 with Queen Victoria
often using the Hotel on her way to Balmoral
Castle 18 miles west.
In front of the Hotel, at the entrance to
Aboyne Green, is the Jubilee Fountain erected
by Locals in commemoration of the Diamond
Jubilee of Queen Victoria 1897, and Coronation
of King Edward VII 1902.
Aboyne Train
Station is a short walk east of the Village
centre, opened in 1859, closed in 1966, now
housing a number of Shops. There used to be Old
Railway Carriages here, used for inexpensive
accommodation for Tourists, also, a short Line
to Aboyne Curling Pond Railway Station, for
people Curling on the Loch of
Aboyne.
This was a time of the Little Ice Age
from the 1600s to 1800s when Ponds would freeze
over regular in winters.
The old Railway Line is now part of the
Deeside Way footpath
that runs 40 miles between Aberdeen and
Ballater.
The Bowling and Tennis are
across the road from Aboyne centre, with Tennis
Court hire available for a small fee.
Aboyne Castle is 1 mile north of the Village
centre, with the best way to walk round the
Estate by parking at the Cemetery on Aboyne
Stone Circle Road, or walk from the Village
centre. Castle and Stone Circle
Map.
Aboyne Castle
was built from the 1200s for the Bysets, Lords
of Strathdee and Aboyne. This early Wooden
Castle was replaced by the Stone Castle seen
today from the 1670s. The Castle has been owned
by the Knights Templar, Clan Fraser, Clan
Keith, and now Clan Gordon.
The Coo Cathedral
is by the Castle, built in 1889 for William
Cunliffe Brooks to house prize Bulls and Cows,
now converted for Weddings and Events. Brooks
had bought the neighbouring Glen Tanar
Estate, with his Daughter marrying Charles Gordon,
Earl of Aboyne.
The Castle is private, and there are houses
being built on the Estate, but many people use
the Estate to visit the Stone Circle, Walking,
Jogging, and Cycling.
Aboyne Bridge is on the west side of the
Village, crossing the River Dee. The first
Bridge from 1828 collapsed the following year.
A Suspension Bridge was completed in 1829, with
that collapsing in 1859. The third Bridge was
completed in 1871, with that Bridge being
replaced in 1930 by the Bridge seen today.
The Boat Inn by the Bridge
is a popular spot for Drinks, Coffee, and
Meals.
St Thomas's
Episcopal Church is also on the west side,
on Old Tollhouse Road, completed in 1909 in
Gothic Style, looks much older.
Aboyne Golf Club is 1 mile east of the
Village, founded in 1883. Club
History.
Aboyne Loch Caravan
Park is under 1 mile east of the Village,
with Pitches for Tourers, not sure if they
still do Tents, also Fishing on the Loch.
Aboyne History
1245 - Walter Bisset of Aboyne Castle, under
1 mile north of Aboyne, was accused of
murdering the Earl of Atholl after the Earl
defeated him in a Tournament, leading to feuds
that ended with many Bisset's fleeing to
Ireland, then Aboyne Castle being taken over by
the Knights Templar.
1307 - the English took control of Aboyne
Castle during the First War of Scottish
Independence.
1355 - Clan Keith gained control of Aboyne
Castle from the Fraser's through marriage.
1400s - Aboyne Castle became the property of
Clan Gordon through marriage.
1640 - Archibald Campbell, Earl of Argyll,
took control of Aboyne Castle when leading
Government forces in Battles with Covenanters.
Clan Gordon had men fighting on both side of
the Covenanters War, a time some Scots were
fighting to prevent Kings based in England from
ruling their Churches.
The Gordon's resumed control of Aboyne
Castle after the Covenanters War.
1745 - the Battle of Culloden ended with
Government forces defeating the Jacobite's,
last major battle on the British mainland,
leading to safer times with the Government
building Military Roads and Forts throughout
the Highlands to keep the peace.
1770 - the Huntly Arms Hotel was built in
the centre of Aboyne, a time the Village was
evolving.
1798 - Horse Drawn Mail Coaches began
running between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, also
carrying Passengers. Mail then had to be
transported from Aberdeen to Towns in the area
by Horse and Rider.
1800s early - Horse drawn Mail Carriages
began operating from Aberdeen to Towns in the
Deeside area, also transporting Passengers.
1800s - Aboyne Castle has a large extension
built onto the original Tower.
1848 - Queen Victoria gained control of
Balmoral Estate 18 miles west of
Aboyne, with her often stopping at Aboyne on
her travels to and from Balmoral. Roads in the
area were basically cart tracks at that time,
with Queen Victoria almost killed once when her
Horse Drawn Carriage overturned.
1859 - the Railway reached Aboyne with the
Station in the centre of the Village.
1867 - the first Aboyne Highland Games take
place.
1870 - Curling was played on the Loch of
Aboyne, also known as St Katherine's Loch, with
it being so popular, a Railway Line was built
to the Loch with its own Station. The Curling
Club is thought to have ended around the time
of World War One 1914 - 1918. The Loch is under
1 mile east of Aboyne.
1870s - Sir William
Cunliffe Brooks bought Glen Tanar Estate on
the south side of Aboyne from the Gordon's,
with his daughter marrying Charles Gordon,
11th Marquess of Huntly. Brooks had a pink
granite Mansion built on the Glen Tanar Estate,
also the Coo Cathedral for prize Bulls close to
Aboyne Castle.
1883 - Aboyne Golf Club was founded.
1891 - Sir Hugh Munro published his first
list of Mountains in Scotland over 3,000 feet,
with Mount Keen by
Aboyne being one of these Mountains at 939 m /
3,081 feet. Mountains over 3,000 feet now
attract many Hikers from all over the UK, and
beyond.
1895 - the first Cars were imported into
Scotland, with the new Roads built for Cars,
Buses and Trucks soon leading to reduced trade
for the Railways.
1905 - Glen Tanar Estate was bought by
J&P Coats Ltd of Paisly, with the Estate
still in that family today. Glen Tanar is now
used for Holidays, Sport, and Weddings.
1966- the Railway closed at Aboyne with the
Station now used for Shops. The Old Line is now
part of the Deeside Way footpath that runs
40 miles between Aberdeen and Ballater.
1970s - most of the extensions built onto
Aboyne Castle in the 1800s were demolished.
2010s - Gordon's begin selling land on the
Aboyne Castle Estate for housing known as
Castle Park. The Castle is also altered at this
time with some outer buildings removed to be
replaced by larger buildings.
2018? - the Coo Cathedral
was converted to be used for Weddings and
Functions.
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