Aberdour

Aberdour is a historic village and municipality ( civil parish ) in the UK on the south coast of Fife in the east of the Central Lowlands, Scotland with good population of 1600. The place is between the small towns of Dalgety Bay and Burntisland on the north bank of the Firth of Forth, overlooking the south upstream, community belonging to Inchcolm Island and the local medieval Augustinian Abbey Inchcolm Abbey. On the opposite bank lies in the southeast almost 30 kilometers of road distance, the Scottish capital Edinburgh.

History

Today Aberdour consists of two historic villages Wester Aberdour and Easter Aberdour, the west and east of the mouth of the eponymous river Dour Burn originated and whose origins date in Pictish time go back, probably in the "dark " 5th century between withdrawal of the Romans from Britain and conquest by the Anglo-Saxons. Wester Aberdour was raised in 1501 to a nationwide grand town ( burgh of barony ), Easter Aberdour 1638 to a royal ( burgh of regality ).

From the High Middle Ages, the historical development of Aberdour by the established aristocratic families and the associated construction activity is well documented. Of special importance for the medieval and early modern history were the abbots of Inchcolm Abbey and the lords of the castle, from 1458 the Earl of Morton, from the powerful, widely branched Clan Douglas, who resided at Aberdour Castle from the 14th to the 18th century and its property, it until the 20th century remained.

Before the Douglas ' dominated the 12th and 13th century the Norman knights of Mortimer Castle and Country, whose continued presence is unclear. 1314 gave King Robert I the Bruce, which reign to his deserved henchman Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, whose zweitgeborenem son John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray in 1342 it to the Douglas ' went on, in the person of Sir William Douglas of Liddesdale; other sources say she went over to Sir James Douglas of Dalkeith only in the year 1351.

Attractions

In the village of Aberdour, there are some well-preserved medieval buildings that are listed in the category A of the Scottish monument classification and thus classified as nationally or internationally important monuments, their maintenance and management is carried out centrally by the Scottish authorities Historic Scotland. These are in particular:

Historically significant is also the main house Aberdour House, built in the 17th century and 1725 by Robert Douglas, 12th Earl of Morton purchased and from now on, the old castle was peeling off, used as a family residence. In addition, there are a greater number predominantly in the categories B and C classified monuments of different eras.

Tourism

Because of its charming historic townscape, its protected coastal location and proximity to the capital Edinburgh Aberdour is equally interesting for tourists, short breaks and day-trippers. In addition to culturally and historically motivated travelers especially bathers are attracted because Aberdour has two award-winning sandy beaches. On the east side of the place is Silver Sands, a fine sandy beach, which is one of the seven Scottish beaches that have been awarded with the international Blue Flag eco-label; on the west side is Black Sands, which is characterized by dark, stony sand and a rougher coast and especially is considered attractive because of its caves. Black Sands received the Seaside Award. In the summer months there is a regular ferry service from the port to Aberdour Abbey Inchcolm Island. In addition, the site is located on the 190 km long distance hiking trail Fife Coastal Path and has a golf course with 18 holes.

Transport and the economy

Aberdour is located on the A921, the main road in the south of Fife, about 7 km east of the M90 motorway. Edinburgh International Airport is 24 km away. With the completion of the railway bridge Forth Bridge in 1890 the town was connected to the UK rail network and the local train station opened in the same year, which is still in operation. The Port of Aberdour was especially since its expansion in the 18th century to about 1850 on the regional carbon shipment of importance; then he became a popular destination for pleasure boats from Leith and it developed a first tourist infrastructure.

After the inauguration of the highway bridge Forth Road Bridge in 1964, the transport links improved yet again crucial, so that the area around the Dalgety Bay a popular residential space for Edinburgh commuters was, those with Dalgety Bay in 1962 specifically a new town was built.

Originally Aberdour was a thriving fishing village which has developed into a popular seaside resort and tourist resort in the 20th century. There were also in the vicinity of coal mines and quarries.

Interest

  • Since July 2004, Aberdour is in a twinning to the Italian community Corte Franca.
  • Some scenes of the independent feature Desolation - 16 Years of Alcohol were filmed at the Black Sands beach.
  • The Aberdour Shinty Club is the only Shinty club in Fife, which is active in the senior section. The first team plays in the South Division second-rate one, the second one league lower in the South Division Two.
  • Since 1984, is held annually for ten days from late July to early August, the Aberdour Festival, with a wide range of musical and other performances. In the summer of 2013 it was organized for the 30th time.
  • 1744/45 was a Scottish astronomer James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton the good 12 meter high obelisk Aberdour House building, as it is called in to see his new place of residence Edinburgh his home. The obelisk is performed in the Scottish monument classification in Category B.

Sons and citizens of Aberdour

Post town Lieutenancy areas of Scotland Civil parishes in England Cowdenbeath (Scottish Parliament constituency) Scottish Lowlands Castle Sween Long-distance trail Independent music
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