Buchan

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Peterhead Bay

Buchan is a traditional district of Aberdeenshire, occupying the "Cold Shoulder of Scotland", where the land juts in a broad corner into the North Sea, the Moray coast to the west.

This area is also an historic earldom, and Buchan appears as such on early maps. The Earldom of Mar and Buchan formed one of the seven original Scottish earldoms; later the Earl of Buchan became separated from Mar.

The largest town in Buchan is Peterhead, which is indeed the largest town in the county apart from Aberdeen and the principal white fish landing port in Europe; and a major oil industry service centre. Equally important is the nearby gas terminal at St Fergus. RAF Buchan, a radar station, is in the area.

Attempts are being made to counter the negative effects of several recent key company closures and economic threats. Inland, the area is dependent upon agriculture, and many villages have seen a decline in population and services.

The Formartine and Buchan Way runs through Buchan.

History

Buchan was part of the Pictish kingdom of Ce.

There is considerable ancient history in this geographic area, especially slightly northwest of Cruden Bay, where the Catto Long Barrow and numerous tumuli are found.[1]

Outside links

References