Alford, Aberdeenshire

All you want to know about Alford, Aberdeenshire

Coordinates: 57°14′N 2°43′W / 57.23, -2.71

Alford
Alford shown within Scotland
Population	1,925^[1] (2001 census) est. 2,050^[2] (2006)
OS grid reference	NJ5716
Council area	Aberdeenshire
Constituent country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Police	Grampian
Fire	Grampian
Ambulance	Scottish
European Parliament	Scotland
List of places: UK • Scotland

Alford (pronounced "aaford") is a large village in Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland, lying just south of the River Don. 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.

Alford gave its name to a battle of the Civil War (1645), and lies within the Howe of Alford. It is also the home of the world popular Aberdeen Angus cattle breed, which is celebrated by a life-sized iron model of a bull on the edge of the town.

Probably due to Alford's relative isolation and large catchment area, there are a large number of services in the village, including three banks, a supermarket, three garages, two bakeries and a wide range of other shops. There is also a dry ski slope (one of only a handful in Scotland), a swimming pool and a public library.

The Vale of Alford Railway, Grampian Transport Museum, Alford Heritage Centre and Craigievar Castle are popular visitor attractions, with a range of other archaeological sites, stone circles, and castles (including Castle Fraser and Drum Castle) being within easy reach by road. Situated in Alford, Haughton Country Park is a large and popular green space with a caravan park and woodland walks. The 18 hole Alford Golf Club is an attractive and pleasant course which has a large local membership.

There is a bus service connecting with Aberdeen, approximately 25 miles away.

There is much new housebuilding going on in Alford as of 2006^[update] to cater for a workforce who mainly commute in Aberdeen to work in the oil industry.^{[citation needed]}

Another claim to fame for Alford is the world famous Alford Oatmeal, ground at Montgarrie, just outside the town.

Notable residents

Alford is the birthplace of the renowned poet, Charles Murray.
Stewart Milne, chairman of both the Stewart Milne Group and Aberdeen Football Club was born nearby and attended school in Alford
Alford is also the birthplace of the person who played the most games for Glasgow Rangers, Douglas Herbert Gray, who played 948 games for the team.

References

^ "Comparative Population Profile: Alford Locality". Scotland's Census Results Online (2001-04-29). Retrieved on 2008-08-31.
^ http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data

External links

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v • d • e Settlements and Places of Interest in Marr, Scotland

Primary Settlements	Aboyne · Alford · Ballater · Banchory · Braemar · Huntly · Lumphanan · Tarland · Torphins

Other Settlements	Crathie · Kincardine O'Neil · Logie Coldstone · Monymusk · Ruthven · Strathdon

Places of Interest	Balmoral Castle · Blelack · Braemar Castle · Burn o' Vat · Cairn O' Mounth · Cairngorms National Park · Corgarff Castle · Craigievar Castle · Crathes Castle · Crathie Kirk · Forest of Birse · Grampian Transport Museum · Huntly Castle · Kildrummy Castle · Lochnagar · Lost · Royal Deeside · Royal Deeside Railway · Tullich · Vale of Alford Railway

v • d • e Areas and Primary Settlements in Aberdeenshire (see also: Aberdeen City)

in Banff and Buchan	Aberchirder · Banff and Macduff · Fraserburgh · Gardenstown · Inverallochy and Cairnbulg · Portsoy · Rosehearty · Sandhaven · Whitehills

in Buchan	Boddam · Crimond · Cruden Bay · Fetterangus · Hatton · Longside · Maud · Mintlaw · New Deer · New Pitsligo · Peterhead · St. Combs · St. Fergus · Strichen · Stuartfield

in Formartine	Balmedie · Cuminestown · Ellon · Fyvie · Newburgh · Oldmeldrum · Pitmedden · Potterton · Rothienorman · Tarves · Turriff

in Garioch	Blackburn · Insch · Inverurie · Kemnay · Kintore · Newmachar · Westhill

in Kincardine and Mearns	Drumoak · Fettercairn · Gourdoun · Inverbervie · Johnshaven · Laurencekirk · Newtonhill · Portlethen · St. Cyrus · Stonehaven

in Marr	Aboyne · Alford · Ballater · Banchory · Braemar · Huntly · Lumphanan · Tarland · Torphins