Fraserburgh

Fraserburgh is a Town on the Aberdeenshire & Moray Coast area of Scotland, 41 miles north of Aberdeen, 98 miles east of Inverness.

Fraserburgh is popular for its Beach, Bustling Fishing Harbour, Sea Angling, Heritage Centre, Museum of Scottish Lighthouses, and a number of Walks in the Area, including Fraserburgh Bay.

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The image top is of the Saltoun Place Fountain on the road into Fraserburgh from the south.

The second image is of from Broad Street looking east to Saltoun Square and the Market Cross, centre of Fraserburgh. The Market Cross was originally built in 1613, on the east side of the Square, before being moved to the centre of the Square in 1858.

The Saltoun Inn, built in 1801, is on the north side of the Square, Town House built in 1855 on the south side, and the Old Parish Church next to the Town House in 1803.

Next to the Old Parish Church is the the Saltoun Mausoleum, with the Saltoun Family being Lords and Ladies from the 1400s.

The Fraser family gained the title Lord Saltoun from the 1600s through marriage, with that Family building much of the the Town, then naming it Fraserburgh.

Fraserburgh Heritage Centre is about half of a mile north of the Town Centre, open from April to October, covering the History of the Area and People. This building was completed around 1900 to store Herring Barrels, converted to the Heritage Centre in 1998.

The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses is next to the Heritage Centre, also with the Kinnaird Head Castle Lighthouse and Wine Tower. This was the first Lighthouse on the Scottish mainland, after a giant lamp was placed on the roof of the Castle in 1787. Open most of the year.

Some people now travel around the Coast of Scotland viewing the Lighthouses, as they are normally on the most rugged and scenic places you can find. Lighthouses List.

Fraserburgh Harbour is close to the Town Centre, a short walk south from the Lighthouse, probably the best Harbour in Scotland to view Fishing Boats and Seals.

You can also take Sea Angling trips with Guide Charters and Misty Angling Trips.

Fraserburgh Harbour was built from 1576 for Sir Alexander Fraser, becoming one of the largest Fishing Harbour's in Scotland. This Harbour used to be crammed full of Sail Fishing Boats from the mid 1800s to early 1900s during the Herring Boom. Herring Photos & Info.

Most local Boats are up to 70 feet long, as this is the maximum size allowed to fish in certain areas around the coast of Scotland.

Part of the Harbour now holds larger Midwater Fishing Trawlers used further out in the North and Atlantic Seas, over 200 feet long, capable of catching over 1,000 tons of Fish on each trip, mainly Blue Whiting, Mackerel, and Herring.

Fraserburgh Beach is on the south side of the Town with a Cafe and Kids Play. The Beach stretches for miles south alongside the Golf Course.

Fraserburgh Golf Club is on the south side of the Town, founded in 1777, with this Links Course opened in 1891, re-designed by James Braid in 1922.

Fraserburgh History

1504 - the Fraser's gained the lands of Philorth through marriage, with the largest Town that evolved in this area being named after them, the Burgh of Fraser, Fraserburgh.

1570 - the Fraser's built Fraserburgh Castle, also known as Kinnaird Head Castle, at Kinnaird Head on the north side of the Town.

1576 - Fraserburgh Harbour was built for Sir Alexander Fraser.

Alexander's son, another Alexander Fraser, inherited the title Lord Saltoun, a title still held by the Fraser's today. Much of the Town was built for this Family, then named after them.

1760s - the Highland Clearances began, forcing small scale Farmers off their Crofts to make way for large scale Sheep Farming. Some of these families emigrated to America and Canada, with others relocating to coastal Villages and Towns to take up Sea Fishing, or work in Trading.

At that time, many Landowners began investing much of their wealth building up coastal Villages and Towns, with Harbour's for Fishing and Trade. There were no Trains at that time, and travel by Road was by Horse with few Bridges, so Boats were the main way to Trade around the country.

1787 - Fraserburgh Castle was converted to serve as Kinnaird Head Lighthouse, the first Lighthouse on the mainland of Scotland.

1798 - the first Horse drawn Mail Coaches began running up from Edinburgh, using new Roads and Bridges. With these Roads soon becoming McAdam Roads, made from different sizes of small stones that packed down to make a level, durable Road.

These Mail Coaches also carried Passengers.

1806 - a private run Lifeboat Service began operating.

1807 - the Harbour was enlarged for the increasing number of Fishing Boats, the start of the Herring Boom, with over 800 Sail Fishing Boats based there at one time. Most of these Sail Boats were about 20 feet in length. The first of these Boats had open decks, known for being easily sunk if waves came over the side.

1858 - the RNLI Lifeboat Station opened, first official RNLI Station in Scotland.

1865 - Fraserburgh Railway Station opened at a time Herring Boats were recording record catches, with the Railway used to transport Barrels of Herring around the country. The Railway ended use of the Horse Drawn Mail Carriages.

The Herring season is from August to October, with about 2,000 seasonal workers living in the Town during those months until the mid 1900s. Herring Photos & Info .

1895 - the first Cars were imported into Scotland, creating a lot of dust when traveling fast over the McAdam Roads.

1902 - Tar was sprayed on the McAdam Roads to prevent dust, the beginning of modern day roads.

1900s early - powered Fishing Boats began entering service, soon being built up to 70 feet long, allowing fishing further out into the North Sea with larger nets, leading to Over Fishing and Quotas being introduced from the mid 1900s. Fishing Fleets were dramatically reduced from this time.

1930s - Diesel engine Trucks began operating on the Roads around the UK, taking trade from the Railways.

1964 - the Fisheries Convention signed an agreement in London for Fishing Rights in coastal waters of Western Europe and the North Sea, allowing EU Fishing Boats to Fish around the UK, and UK Boats to fish around the EU.

1979 - the Railway at Fraserburgh closed.

2000s early - Fishing Stocks are stabilized with new larger Trawlers entering Service at around 200 feet long, for Deep Sea Fishing in the Atlantic and North Seas. Fraserburgh Harbour is a top place to view traditional Trawlers up to 70 feet, and the larger 200 foot Trawlers.

2010 - a Memorial was erected at Fraserburgh Harbour in honour of 13 Crew that died in three Lifeboat Disasters at Fraserburgh.

2010s - European Union Trawlers up to 500 feet in length, with huge nets, Fishing around the UK, are accused of taking fish species they are not meant to take.

2020 - the UK leaves the European Union, stating they are going to control the Fish Stocks around the UK themselves.