Alford Travel Guide - Scotland

Alford, a quietly characteristic and attractive village situated near the river Don, 25 miles west of Aberdeen, was the scene in 1645 of a battle won by Montrose against the covenanters. Today it is a popular tourist destination ideally situated for exploration of the many larger towns around and the spectacular scenery, with the Coreen Hills to the North and Bennachie to the Northeast. It has its own golf course too.

Alford owes its existence to the Great North Scotland Railway and Alford Valley Railway is Scotland's only 2ft gauge passenger line, which operates rides to Haughton Country Park nearby and from there to Murray Park.

Grampian Transport Museum displays various types of transport through the ages. Alford Heritage Centre has an excellent collection of agricultural machinery spanning from the yesteryears to today and tells the local history.

Balfuig Castle built in 1556 stands 1 mile Southeast of Alford. It was a tower house of the Forbes Family who incidentally now occupy Castle Forbes 3 miles Northeast of Alford. Terpersie Castle 4 miles Northwest was built around 1561. After the Battle of Culloden, the owner George Gordon who had fought against the Redcoats, was captured and executed after his cover was blown, accidentally by his own children.