Explore a town steeped in history when you visit Keith, located in the Grampian Highlands of Scotland. It is divided into three sections – Old Keith, New Keith and Fife Keith. The first appearance of this town in any written records was in 1195 in the charter of William the Lion. The word comes from the Gaelic meaning, "wind" or "pure air" and this is something that you will agree with once you visit this fascinating town. The history of the area can be traced back to 700 A.D. when St. Maelrubha of Applecross converted the settlers to Christianity. It was also an important market town in the 12
th century when people travelled from all over Scotland to buy and sell goods here. This tradition continues today in the annual Keith Agricultural Show held in August.
Although Keith is one of the smallest towns in the northeast of Scotland, with a population of about 5000, you won't have any difficulty driving here, as it is located at the intersection of the A95 and A96 roads. It is located about half way between Inverness and Aberdeen and is in the heart of Scottish farming country. There are distilleries nearby, such as the Strathisla Distillery, which are part of the Scottish Malt Whisky Trail. The Strathisla Distillery is the oldest working distillery in the country and is the home of the famous Chivas Regal whisky.
You can make Keith your base of operations when exploring the villages of the North East or for taking a visit to the Cairngorm Mountains. The Keith and Dufftown Railway is a heritage railway that will take you along 11 miles of breathtaking scenery from Keith to Dufftown through Drummuir.
Some of the other tourist attractions in Keith include a visit to Milton Tower, the oldest building in the town. It was once part of a large castle built in 1480 by George Ogilvie as the family seat. St Rufus Church dates back to 1816 and the St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church dates back to 1831. This church was built in the Doris style and features the "Incredulity of St. Thomas" – a painting given as a gift by King Charles X of France in 1828.
Take a walk to the Falls of Tarnash, located in a peaceful wooded glen. If you climb the summit of Meikle Balloch, the result is a stunning view of the countryside below. Some of the annual events that take place in Keith include a Spring Flower Show and the Annual Festival of Country and Western Music.
There are many activities for visitors of all ages when you come to Keith. Fish for salmon and trout in the River Deveron or tee off at the Keith Golf Club. The newest attraction in the area is Falconry, just 7 miles outside of town. Here you can see falcons, owls and eagles as part of the permanent exhibits and there are breathtaking flying demonstrations.
With the wealth of accommodations and restaurants, you won't find it difficult to arrange to stay for a night or a week. Drop into the pub and chat with the locals as you enjoy a drink and some traditional Scottish music. The stores in the town feature all kinds of crafts unique to the area, so you are sure to find something to take back home along with your memories.
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