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This article is about the towns in Scotland. For the fictional Shakespearean character, Macduff, see Macduff (thane). The Royal Burgh of Banff ( Gaelic Banbh ) and the burgh of Macduff are neighbouring burghs in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Prior to 1975 Banff was the county town of Banffshire, and this is sometimes still given in postal addresses.
Attractions and history Banff lies on the west bank, and Macduff on the east bank of the mouth of the River Deveron, around 20 miles west of Fraserburgh. The towns have an aquarium, golf course, beaches, and are home to the Colleonard Sculpture Park. The well-preserved townscape has many historic buildings. Also close by is Duff House, designed by William Adam in 1730, and now open to the public as a gallery and a part of the National Gallery of Scotland. Many of the nearby villages also contribute to tourism in the area; in particular Gardenstown and Pennan. Banff's Tourist Information Centre opens during the summer and can be found by the car park en route to Banff Bridge and Macduff. Their audio tours provide an insight into the town, its history and architecture. Banff and Macduff don't quite merge, but are separated by the valley of the River Deveron. This unpredictable river was only finally tamed by the seven arched bridge completed in 1799 by John Smeaton, famed for the Eddystone Lighthouse. An earlier bridge had been built in 1765, but was swept away in 1768. The old ferry was brought back into use, until it was lost in a flood in 1773. Though no longer a commercial port, the harbour still serves leisure traffic and small fishing boats. Sport Banff and surrounding areas have a local football team, Deveronvale F.C.. Etymology The name "Banff" is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Banbh or Banbha, which was one of the old poetic names for Ireland. Currently, the languages spoken in the town and in its vicinity tend to be the Doric dialect of Scots, or English Notable residents | ||||||||
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