Cruden Bay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cruden Bay
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 Cruden Bay
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| Population | 1,570 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NK089363 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PETERHEAD |
| Postcode district | AB42 |
| Dialling code | 01779 81 |
| Police | Grampian |
| Fire | Grampian |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament | |
Cruden Bay is a small village in Scotland. It is located on the north coast of the Bay of Cruden in Aberdeenshire. The village is about 26 miles (42 km) north of Aberdeen.
Near Slains Castle, Cruden Bay is famous for a big battle. In 1012, the Scots fought the Danes here. The Scots, led by King Malcolm II, won the battle. The name Cruden Bay might come from the Gaelic words Croch Dain, which mean 'slaughter of Danes'.
Today, Cruden Bay is a popular place for visitors. It has nice hotels and a famous golf course. The village also has a long, beautiful beach. This beach became famous when Norwegian aviator Tryggve Gran made the first solo flight across the North Sea from here.
Contents
Cruden Bay's Literary Connections
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Cruden Bay has been a special place for many famous writers.
Famous Visitors and Their Works
Dr Samuel Johnson and James Boswell visited Slains Castle in 1773. Johnson was very impressed by the Bullers of Buchan, a sea cave near the village. He said it was a sight "no man can see with indifference."
Dun Bay, also called Yellow Rock, is another place near the Bullers of Buchan. This spot is linked to Walter Scott's novel The Antiquary.
Bram Stoker and Dracula
Bram Stoker, the writer of Dracula, visited Cruden Bay often. He came every summer between 1892 and 1910. He found the village by accident while looking for a refreshing place on the east coast. He loved it so much that he brought his family to stay at the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel.
Cruden Bay was important for Stoker's writing. His holidays gave him time to work on his books. He wrote the first parts of Dracula in Cruden Bay. He might have written most of the book there too. He also set two other novels, The Watter's Mou' (1895) and The Mystery of the Sea (1902), in and around the village.
Poetry Inspired by Cruden Bay
James Macpherson's poem The Highlander, written in 1758, was inspired by the Battle of Cruden.
Cruden Bay's Early History
The area around Cruden Bay has a long history. The oldest human traces are found at Catto Long Barrow. This is a huge stone structure surrounded by farms.
Important Historical Buildings
Slains Castle sits on a cliff nearby. It was started in 1597 but was partly taken down in the 1920s. Bishop's Bridge, built in 1697, crosses the Water of Cruden.
Port Erroll and Its Beginnings
In the 1840s and 1850s, William Hay, 18th Earl of Erroll, created the fishing village of Port Erroll. A proper harbor was built in the 1870s at the mouth of the Water of Cruden. Before this, there was a small group of simple fishing cottages called Ward.
The village also had a school since 1606. The Erroll Schoolhouse, a two-story building, was built in 1834. There was also a Presbyterian Church, called the Old Kirk, built in 1776. It has unique cone-shaped towers added in 1833. The Saint James Episcopal Church was designed by architect William Hay in 1842.
Fishing and Tourism in Cruden Bay
Port Erroll grew as a fishing village. However, the harbor's tides limited the size of boats that could use it. This meant the village missed out on the big herring fishing boom.
Tourism became another way for the village to earn money. Even before the railway arrived, the beautiful pink sands of Cruden Bay and the cliffs attracted visitors. A small seaside resort began to grow. The Cruden Bay Golfing Society, started in 1791, played on the open links.
The Railway Era in Cruden Bay
The railway brought a grand feel to Cruden Bay, but not lasting wealth. The Boddam railway line opened in 1897. Along with it came the golf course and the large 55-bedroom Cruden Bay Hotel two years later. A special tramway, the Cruden Bay Hotel Tramway, linked the station and the hotel.
The Great North of Scotland Railway Company tried to make Cruden Bay a famous resort, like Brighton. They said it was only twelve hours from London and perfect for wealthy people. But the railway and hotel did not do well for long. The railway stopped carrying passengers in 1932. In 1939, the hotel was used as an army hospital. It was never reopened and was taken down around 1950.
Even though the railway is gone, Cruden Bay is still a popular place for golf. The village still has three smaller hotels. The railway adventure helped put the name Cruden Bay firmly on the map.
Cruden Bay Today
In the 1950s and 1960s, Cruden Bay's population went down. But then, North Sea oil brought new jobs and families to north-east Scotland. This helped the village grow again. New homes were built near the old brickworks and the site of the former hotel.
Today, Cruden Bay is mostly a village where people live and travel to work. Many residents commute to Peterhead in the north or Aberdeen in the south. The old timbered salmon station from the 18th century still operates. Some seasonal commercial fishing also continues.
Local Facilities and Activities
Cruden Bay has a medium-sized primary school. Older students travel by bus to Peterhead Academy for secondary school. The village has a few small shops, including a chemist/newsagent, a post office/hardware store, a craft shop, and a general store. There is also a Chinese takeaway, a medical surgery, and a library.
For sports, there are tennis courts and two football pitches. The school and public hall host groups like Girlguiding UK. There is a Congregational Church in the village center. Just outside the village, you can find a Scottish Episcopalian Church and a Church of Scotland parish. Cruden Bay is close to Ellon and Peterhead, and about a 30-minute drive from Aberdeen City.
Visitors can stay at two hotels, a pub, or bed and breakfasts. Popular attractions include the beach and the golf course of the Cruden Bay Golf Club. This golf course is ranked among the top in the country.
Oil Pipeline in Cruden Bay
You might not see much of it, but Cruden Bay is where a very important oil pipeline comes ashore. A few miles south of the village, there is a small complex. This is where the 110-mile (177 km) long Forties pipeline, operated by Ineos, reaches land. Since 1975, it has pumped crude oil from the Forties oilfield to Whinnyfold. From there, the oil travels by land pipeline to Grangemouth.
Amenities in Cruden Bay
- Primary school with pre-school nursery
- Library
- Post office / General store
- Newsagent / General store
- Medical Practice
- Pharmacy
- Golf course
- Bed and breakfasts
- Self-catering accommodation
- Two hotels
- Public house
- Chinese take-away
Images for kids
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Harbour Street in Cruden Bay.
See also
In Spanish: Cruden Bay para niños
