Portlethen

Portlethen Gaelic: Port Leathain
Kincardineshire
Location
Grid reference:	NO9178396318
Location:	57°2’60"N, 2°6’0"W
Data
Population:	7,130  (2011 Census [4])
Post town:	Aberdeen
Dialling code:	01224
Local Government
Council:	Aberdeenshire
Parliamentary constituency:	West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine

Portlethen is a town in Kincardineshire located approximately seven miles south of Aberdeen along the A90 road. It is a coastal town lying along the North Sea coast. The population according to the 2011 census was 7,130 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, it resembles a residential suburb without a clear 'town centre' or focal point.

History

Portlethen was originally a small fishing village. The harbour is located in what is now Old Portlethen, the original village on the coast about a half a mile east from Portlethen Parish Church.

Portlethen lies about a mile east of the ancient Causey Mounth road, which was built on high ground to make passable this only available mediæval route across the Mounth from coastal points south to Aberdeen. This ancient passage specifically connected the Bridge of Dee with Muchalls Castle and Stonehaven to the south. The route was that taken by the William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal and James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose when they led a Covenanter army of 9,000 men in the first battle of the Civil War in 1639.

Portlethen Moss

Much of modern-day Portlethen has been built over the Portlethen Moss Nature Reserve, formerly home to the Great Crested Newt and the Red-spotted newt. The remainder of Portlethen Moss is approximately one quarter of the size it was twenty years ago. Groups such as the Portlethen Moss Conservation Group were created specifically to maintain the area for the use of future generations.

Public Transport

There is a railway station in Portlethen. According to the Portlethen corridor capacity study, carried out in 2008, services to Portlethen station are too infrequent, but ScotRail introduced an increased frequency from December 2012. There are now nine trains to Aberdeen per day, as well as direct trains to Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Portlethen is connected by direct bus routes to Aberdeen in the north, and Newtonhill and Stonehaven in the south.

Portlethen Golf Club

Portlethen Golf Club was founded in 1981, and a championship course designed by Donald Steel opened for play in 1989. The Club is owned by its members, but welcomes visitors and currently has vacancies for membership in most categories including gents, ladies and juniors. The course is a par 72 with two par 3s and two par 5s in each half (providing a par 3 and a par 5 facing each of north, south, east and west) to complement five par 4s in each half. A series of circuits make it easy to play a few holes or a complete round. The club provides an excellent clubhouse and full 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 in the club's history.

Community Council

The Portlethen & District Community Council (PDCC) was officially reformed on 30 November 2007. It meets 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.

Gallery

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

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Portlethen)

• Portlethen & District Community Council Website