Aberdeenshire is a council area in north-east Scotland, wrapped around the city of Aberdeen but administered separately from it. It had a population of 263,723 at the 2022 census and covers 6,313 square kilometres (2,437 sq mi), making it the fourth largest council area in Scotland by land area.
The area runs from the North Sea coast at Peterhead and Fraserburgh west into the Cairngorms at Braemar. Its Scots name is Aiberdeenshire and its Gaelic name Siorrachd Obar Dheathain. Peterhead is the largest town; the council itself is run from Woodhill House in Aberdeen, the only Scottish council with its headquarters outside its own boundary.
| Country | Scotland, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Status | Council area |
| Area | 6,313 km2 (2,437 sq mi) |
| Population (2022) | 263,723 |
| Population (2011) | 252,973 |
| Density | 42 people per km2 |
| Largest town | Peterhead |
| Council | Aberdeenshire Council, Woodhill House, Aberdeen |
| Historic counties | Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire, part of Banffshire |
| Postcode areas | AB, small part of PH |
Towns and Villages in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire has 521 named towns, villages, hamlets and crofting settlements. The council groups them into six areas: Banff and Buchan in the north, Buchan in the north-east, Formartine and Garioch in the centre, Marr in the west and Kincardine and Mearns in the south. The list below runs alphabetically, from Aberchirder to Ythsie.
- Aberchirder
- Abergeldie
- Aboyne
- Adendale
- Aldie
- Alford
- Allardice
- Annochie
- Aquhythie
- Arbuthnott
- Ardallie
- Ardo
- Arnage
- Arthrath
- Aucharnie
- Auchattie
- Auchenblae
- Auchingoul
- Auchininna
- Auchleven
- Auchlunies
- Auchmacoy
- Auchmaliddie
- Auchnagatt
- Backhill
- Backhill of Clackriach
- Backhill of Goval
- Badentoy Park
- Badenyon
- Balbithan
- Balgaveny
- Balhalgardy
- Ballater
- Ballaterich
- Ballogie
- Balmedie
- Balthangie
- Banchory
- Banchory Devenick
- Banff
- Bankhead
- Barrack
- Barthol Chapel
- Belhelvie
- Bellabeg
- Belnacraig
- Belts of Collonach
- Benholm
- Berefold
- Bethelnie
- Birkhall
- Birse
- Birsemore
- Blackburn
- Blackdog
- Blackford
- Blackhills
- Blacklaw
- Blackmill
- Blairdaff
- Blairs
- Boddam
- Boghead
- Bogniebrae
- Bograxie
- Bogside
- Bogton
- Bonnykelly
- Borrowfield
- Boyndie
- Boyndlie
- Braemar
- Brathens
- Brideswell
- Bridge of Alford
- Bridge of Canny
- Bridge of Gairn
- Bridgend
- Broadmuir
- Brownhill
- Bullers of Buchan
- Bulwark
- Burnhaven
- Burnhervie
- Bush
- Cairnborrow
- Cairness
- Cairnhill
- Cairnie
- Cairnorrie
- Cambus o’ May
- Cammachmore
- Carnaquheen
- Carnousie
- Catterline
- Cauldwells
- Chapel Hill
- Chapel of Garioch
- Chapelton
- Clochcan
- Clola
- Clova
- Clovenstone
- Clunie
- Cobairdy
- Cock Bridge
- Coilacriech
- Coldstone
- Collieston
- Colliestown Croft
- Colpy
- Colquhonny
- Comers
- Cookney
- Cookston
- Corgarff
- Cornhill
- Corrennie Croft
- Corrie Crofts
- Corriemulzie
- Corse
- Corsegight
- Corsehill
- Corsindae
- Cortes Village
- Cotburn
- Cothall
- Cothill
- Cottown
- Coull
- Cowbog
- Coynach
- Craigdam
- Craigearn
- Craigie
- Crathes
- Crathie Kirk
- Crawton
- Crimond
- Crofts of Brainjohn
- Crofts of Brownside
- Cromlet
- Crossbrae
- Crossfields
- Crossroads
- Crovie
- Cruden Bay
- Crudie
- Culdrain
- Culsh
- Cultercullen
- Cults
- Cuminestown
- Cushnie
- Cuttyhill
- Daviot
- Deebank
- Denhead
- Dens
- Denside
- Dinnet
- Downies
- Drimmies
- Drum
- Drumblade
- Drumdollo
- Drumfergue
- Drumligair
- Drumlithie
- Drumoak
- Drumshalloch
- Drymuir
- Duncanstone
- Dunecht
- Dunlugas
- Dunnottar
- Durie
- Durno
- Dykeside
- East Balhalgardy
- Easter Balmoral
- Easterton of Auchleuchries
- Eastertown
- Echt
- Edzell Woods
- Ellon
- Esslemont
- Fedderate
- Fetterangus
- Fettercairn
- Fetteresso
- Fiddes
- Fiddler’s Green
- Findon
- Fingask
- Finzean
- Fisherford
- Flushing
- Folla Rule
- Forbestown
- Fordoun
- Fordyce
- Forgue
- Fortrie
- Foveran
- Fowlershill
- Fraserburgh
- Fyvie
- Gamrie
- Gardenstown
- Gariochsford
- Garlogie
- Garmond
- Gartly
- Garvock
- Gight
- Glasgoforest
- Glassel
- Glen Barry
- Glen Tanar
- Glenbervie
- Glenkindie
- Glithno
- Gordonstown
- Gorrachie
- Gourdon
- Goval
- Grantlodge
- Greenheads
- Greens
- Hardgate
- Hatton
- Hatton of Fintray
- Hattoncrook
- Haugh of Glass
- Haulkerton
- Heatherwick
- Heugh-head
- Hill of Goval
- Hill of Keir
- Hillbrae
- Hillhead
- Hillhead of Pitcow
- Hirn
- Hobseat
- Howe of Teuchar
- Huntly
- Idoch
- Inchmarlo
- Inkhorn
- Insch
- Inver
- Inverallochy
- Inverbervie
- Inverernan
- Inverey
- Invergelder
- Inverkeithny
- Inverugie Mill
- Inverurie
- Inverythan
- Ironside
- Jackstown
- Johnshaven
- Keig
- Keilhill
- Keith Hall
- Keithan
- Kemnay
- Keyhead
- Kiddshill
- Kildrummy
- Kincardine O’Neil
- King Edward
- Kingseat
- Kinharrachie
- Kinknockie
- Kinmuck
- Kinmundy
- Kinneff
- Kinnernie
- Kinnoir
- Kintore
- Kirkhill of Kennethmont
- Kirkney
- Kirkton
- Kirkton of Culsalmond
- Kirkton of Durris
- Kirkton of Glenbuchat
- Kirkton of Logie Buchan
- Kirkton of Rayne
- Kirkton of Skene
- Kirktown
- Kirktown of Alvah
- Kirktown of Auchterless
- Kirktown of Bourtie
- Kirktown of Clatt
- Kirktown of Slains
- Knaven
- Knowes of Elrick
- Ladysbridge
- Landerberry
- Largie
- Largue
- Laurencekirk
- Leochel-Cushnie
- Leslie
- Lethenty
- Leylodge
- Locheye
- Lochton
- Logie Newton
- Longhaven
- Longhills
- Longmanhill
- Longside
- Lonmay
- Lower Rannieshill
- Lumphanan
- Lumsden
- Luthermuir
- Lyne of Skene
- Macduff
- Marnoch
- Maryculter
- Marykirk
- Marywell
- Maud
- Meikle Kinord
- Meikle Wartle
- Memsie
- Methlick
- Mid Beltie
- Mid Broadleyhill
- Middlemuir
- Midmar
- Migvie
- Mill of Fintray
- Mill of Minnes
- Millbank
- Millbreck
- Millbrex
- Millburn
- Milton of Auchinhove
- Milton of Cushnie
- Milton of Murtle
- Mintlaw
- Mondynes
- Monkshill
- Monquhitter
- Montcoffer Crofts
- Montgarrie
- Monymusk
- Moor of Balvack
- Mossat
- Mosshead
- Mountblairy
- Muchalls
- Muir
- Muir of Alford
- Muir of Fowlis
- Muir of Kinellar
- Muirtack
- Nether Crimond
- Nether Kinmundy
- Netherbrae
- Netherley
- Nethermill of Tillyhilt
- Nethermuir
- Netherton
- New Aberdour
- New Deer
- New Leads
- New Pitsligo
- New Rayne
- Newbigging
- Newburgh
- Newbyth
- Newmacher
- Newpark
- Newtonhill
- Nittanshead
- North Rayne
- North Water Bridge
- Old Deer
- Old Rayne
- Oldmeldrum
- Oldtown
- Oldwhat
- Ordhead
- Ordie
- Overbrae
- Oyne
- Pannanich
- Peathill
- Pennan
- Perkhill
- Peterhead
- Pettymuick
- Pinecrest
- Pinkie
- Pitcaple
- Pitfichie
- Pitlurg
- Pitmachie
- Pitmedden
- Pittodrie
- Pittrichie
- Pittulie
- Plaidy
- Port Elphinstone
- Port Erroll
- Portlethen
- Portsoy
- Potarch
- Potterton
- Quilquox
- Raemoir
- Ratchhill
- Rathen
- Redcloak
- Redhill
- Rhynie
- Rickarton
- Roadside
- Rora
- Rosehall
- Rosehearty
- Rosehill
- Rothienorman
- Roughpark
- Ruthven
- Saint Catherines Wells
- Saint Combs
- Saint Cyrus
- Saint Fergus
- Sandend
- Sandfordhill
- Sandhaven
- Sauchen
- Sauchieburn
- Schivas
- Schoolhill
- Shiels
- Silverhillocks
- Skateraw
- Skelmuir
- Slack
- Slacks of Cairnbanno
- Slioch
- Smallburn
- South Flobbets
- Spittal of Glenmuick
- St Katherines
- Stevensburn
- Stirling Village
- Stonehaven
- Stony Hill
- Stothill Croft
- Strachan
- Strathdon
- Strichen
- Stuartfield
- Sunnyside
- Tarland
- Tarty
- Tarves
- Tavelty
- Thainstone
- The Neuk
- Thomastown
- Tifty
- Tillery
- Tillinamolt
- Tillybirloch
- Tillydrine
- Tillyfour
- Tillyfourie
- Tillygarmond
- Tillymauld
- Tillyminnate
- Tipperty
- Tocher
- Tornahaish
- Tornaveen
- Torphins
- Torries
- Torry
- Tough
- Towie
- Tullynessle
- Turfhill
- Turriff
- Tyrie Mains
- Udny Green
- Upper Park
- Waterside
- Wedderlairs
- Wells of Ythan
- West Balhalgardy
- Wester Fintrae
- Westertown
- Westhill
- Wheedlemont
- Whinnyfold
- Whitecairns
- Whitefield
- Whiteford
- Whitehills
- Whitehouse
- Whitemyres
- Whiterashes
- Whitestone
- Whitestones
- Woodend
- Woodhead
- Woodlands
- Youlieburn
- Ythanbank
- Ythanwells
- Ythsie
Geography
Aberdeenshire borders Aberdeen City in the east, Moray and Highland in the west and north-west, and Angus and Perth and Kinross in the south. The North Sea forms the whole eastern and northern coast.
Four rivers shape it. The Dee runs east from the Cairngorms through Braemar, Ballater and Banchory as Royal Deeside. The Don follows a parallel valley through Alford, Kemnay and Inverurie. The Ythan drains the Formartine farmland to Newburgh, and the Deveron reaches the sea between Banff and Macduff.
Between the rivers lies some of the best arable land in Scotland, broken by isolated hills such as Bennachie (528 m) above Inverurie. The western third climbs into the Cairngorms National Park, where the highest ground in the area exceeds 1,150 metres.
Demographics
The 2022 census recorded 263,723 residents, an increase of 10,750 on 2011. That is one of the larger rises in Scotland in absolute terms, concentrated in commuter towns within reach of Aberdeen: Westhill, Portlethen, Ellon, Inverurie, Kintore and Newmachar.
The population density is about 42 people per square kilometre, low for a mainland council area. Just over a third of residents live in the ten largest towns; the rest are spread across farms, fishing villages and small inland settlements.
Aberdeenshire has a higher share of children and a slightly lower share of working-age adults than Scotland as a whole. It is also among the least ethnically diverse council areas in the UK, though its farm and fish-processing industries employ a large number of workers from central and eastern Europe.
Economy and Local Life
Farming, fishing and food processing carry the rural economy. Peterhead is the largest white-fish port in Europe by landings, and Fraserburgh is one of the largest shellfish ports; between them they handle most of the Scottish pelagic catch. Aberdeen Angus cattle take their name from the area, and seed potatoes, malting barley and beef are the main farm outputs.
Whisky matters in the west and north: distilleries at Glen Garioch in Oldmeldrum, Glendronach at Forgue, Macduff at Banff and Fettercairn in the Mearns. Peterhead has a gas-fired power station and a supply base serving the offshore fields, and thousands of residents commute to Aberdeen for energy-sector work.
Tourism concentrates on Royal Deeside, where Balmoral Castle at Crathie has been a royal residence since 1852. Braemar holds its Highland Gathering each September. The Castle Trail links Craigievar, Fyvie, Crathes and Dunnottar, the last of these a cliff-top ruin south of Stonehaven.
History
The area was the heart of the Pictish kingdom of Ce, and carries more Pictish symbol stones than anywhere else in Scotland, including the Maiden Stone near Chapel of Garioch. Bennachie is one of the candidate sites for Mons Graupius, the Roman battle of AD 83.
Medieval Aberdeenshire was dominated by the Gordons, Forbeses and Keiths, whose castles still stand across Marr and the Garioch. The Jacobite risings drew heavily on the area: the 1715 rising was proclaimed at Braemar.
The modern council area was created in 1975 as Banff and Buchan, Gordon and Kincardine and Deeside districts within Grampian Region, then merged into a single authority in 1996. Its boundaries deliberately exclude Aberdeen, which is why the historic county lines still used for land registration do not match the council map.
Getting There
The A90 runs north from Dundee through Stonehaven and Aberdeen to Peterhead and Fraserburgh. The A96 crosses Formartine and the Garioch towards Inverness, and the A93 follows Deeside from Aberdeen through Ballater and Braemar to the Glenshee pass, the highest main road in Britain. The A947 links Aberdeen to Turriff and Banff.
Trains run on the East Coast Main Line through Laurencekirk, Portlethen and Stonehaven, and on the Aberdeen to Inverness line through Kintore, Inverurie, Insch, Huntly and Keith. There are no rail lines to Peterhead, Fraserburgh or Deeside; those closed in the 1960s. Aberdeen International Airport at Dyce is the nearest airport to almost the whole area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Aberdeenshire?
263,723 at the 2022 census, up 10,750 since 2011.
What is the largest town in Aberdeenshire?
Peterhead, with about 19,000 residents. Inverurie, Fraserburgh, Westhill, Stonehaven and Ellon come next.
How many villages are in Aberdeenshire?
There are 521 named settlements in the council area, from towns of 19,000 people down to hamlets of a few houses.
Is Aberdeen part of Aberdeenshire?
No. Aberdeen has been a separate council area since 1975, although Aberdeenshire Council’s own headquarters sit inside the city at Woodhill House.
Which historic counties make up Aberdeenshire?
The council area covers most of the historic county of Aberdeenshire, all of Kincardineshire, and the eastern part of Banffshire.
What is the postcode for Aberdeenshire?
Almost all of it uses the AB postcode area, running from AB30 in the Mearns to AB56 on the Banffshire coast. Braemar and the far west use AB35.