Dufftown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dufftown
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 Approaching the Dufftown Clock Tower in the middle of Dufftown |
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 Dufftown
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| Population | 1,590 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NJ323399 |
| • Edinburgh | 108 mi (174 km) SSW |
| • London | 430 mi (692 km) SSE |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | KEITH |
| Postcode district | AB55 |
| Dialling code | 01340 |
| Police | Grampian |
| Fire | Grampian |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Dufftown (which is Baile Bhainidh in Scottish Gaelic) is a small town, also called a burgh, in Moray, Scotland. It's known for being the "Whisky Capital of the World" because it makes more malt whisky than any other town in Scotland!
Dufftown was planned and built in the early 1800s. It has many old buildings from the 19th century. Today, it's an important place for farming, tourism, and different services in the area.
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History of Dufftown
Dufftown is part of an old area called Mortlach. Long ago, around 566 AD, a saint named Moluag started the first Christian church here. This church is still around today as the Mortlach Parish Church.
In the Middle Ages, Mortlach was home to a bishop. This means it was an important religious center. The bishop's main church was called a cathedral.
Balvenie Castle is a very old building in the area, dating back to the 1200s. It was used until 1746. Another important old building is Auchindoun Castle, which was built in the 1400s. It stands on the site of an even older fort from prehistoric times.
Dufftown was officially founded in 1817 by James Duff, 4th Earl Fife. He named the town after himself. The Earl wanted to help his land grow and give homes and jobs to soldiers coming back from the Napoleonic War.
The town was designed like a grid, with streets running north, south, east, and west from a central square. This was a popular way to plan new towns in the Scottish Highlands back then.
By 1841, about 770 people lived in Dufftown. The famous Dufftown Clock Tower was built between 1839 and 1847. It was used as a jail and for town meetings. Later, a public hall was built in 1879, which became a cinema in the 1930s.
In 1890, the Stephens Cottage Hospital was built with money from George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen. A new public school opened in 1902. The town kept growing, reaching 1,823 people by 1901.
Geography of Dufftown
Dufftown sits in a long valley, called a glen, surrounded by hills. One of these hills is Ben Rinnes, a granite mountain that is 841 meters (2,759 feet) high.
The River Fiddich flows through the glen. This river is important because it gives its name to the famous Glenfiddich whisky. Another river, the Dullan Water, joins the Fiddich on the east side of town.
The rocks under Dufftown are mostly Dalradian sedimentary rocks. These are rocks that have changed over time due to heat and pressure.
The Isla Way is a 21-kilometer (13-mile) walking path. It connects Dufftown and the nearby area with the town of Keith.
Climate in Dufftown
Dufftown has an oceanic climate, which is typical for Northern Scotland. This means it has mild, damp winters and cool, cloudy summers. On average, there are about 76 days of frost each year.
The climate in Dufftown is made milder by the Gulf Stream. This is a warm ocean current that comes from near the Gulf of Mexico. Because of the Gulf Stream, Dufftown's winters are much warmer than you might expect for a place so far north.
| Climate data for Keith (Nearest climate station to Dufftown)1981 – 2010 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 5.9 (42.6) |
6.4 (43.5) |
8.4 (47.1) |
11.0 (51.8) |
13.8 (56.8) |
16.0 (60.8) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.1 (64.6) |
15.6 (60.1) |
12.0 (53.6) |
8.3 (46.9) |
5.7 (42.3) |
11.6 (53.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.6 (30.9) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
0.8 (33.4) |
2.6 (36.7) |
4.9 (40.8) |
7.8 (46.0) |
9.8 (49.6) |
9.4 (48.9) |
7.2 (45.0) |
4.5 (40.1) |
1.8 (35.2) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
3.9 (39.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 65.7 (2.59) |
57.8 (2.28) |
63.2 (2.49) |
59.6 (2.35) |
60.8 (2.39) |
77.8 (3.06) |
70.6 (2.78) |
75.6 (2.98) |
89.2 (3.51) |
100.9 (3.97) |
91.9 (3.62) |
64.7 (2.55) |
877.8 (34.57) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 45.9 | 77.3 | 108.2 | 142.2 | 190.0 | 152.7 | 156.8 | 145.6 | 117.5 | 89.6 | 53.2 | 35.0 | 1,314 |
| Source: metoffice | |||||||||||||
Whisky in Dufftown
Dufftown is home to many Scotch whisky distilleries. A distillery is a place where alcoholic drinks are made. It produces more malt whisky than any other town in Scotland. Because of this, it's often called the "Whisky Capital of the World."
There's even a popular rhyme about it: ‘Rome was built on seven hills, Dufftown stands on seven stills.’ A still is a piece of equipment used to make whisky.
The largest and most famous distillery is Glenfiddich. It makes Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky. The Glenfiddich distillery is owned by William Grant & Sons, which is Dufftown's biggest employer.
Dufftown is part of the famous Scotland's Malt Whisky Trail. This trail connects several towns and distilleries in the area.
The town also has a small museum called the Whisky History and Heritage Centre. It teaches visitors about the history of whisky making in the area.
Here are some of the distilleries that have made whisky in Dufftown:
Active distilleries
- Balvenie
- Dufftown
- Glendullan
- Glenfiddich
- Kininvie
- Mortlach
Former distilleries
- Convalmore
- Parkmore
- Pittyvaich
Culture and Community
Dufftown hosts a highland games event every July. This event brings many visitors to the town. Highland Games are traditional Scottish events that include sports, music, and dancing.
The town is also the main location for an annual whisky festival called The Spirit of Speyside.
In 2021, a new project called Destination Dufftown was started. This project aims to bring more visitors to the town. It plans to add new things like a leisure center, places to stay, and new shops.
Community Facilities
The Stephen Cottage Hospital is a local hospital that serves Dufftown. It has 20 beds and was built in 1890.
Dufftown Library is a small community library located on Balvenie Street. It's a place where people can borrow books and use computers.
Tininver Park is a local community park in Dufftown. It has a play area that was updated in 2021, making it a fun spot for kids.
Dufftown Golf Club has an 18-hole golf course. It's located on the edge of town.
Landmarks in Dufftown
One of Dufftown's most famous buildings is the Dufftown Clock Tower. It was built in 1839 and has three floors. It used to be a prison but now it's a tourist information center.
Many buildings in Dufftown are from the Victorian era (the time when Queen Victoria ruled). Some of these old buildings are protected because they are historically important. Examples include the old Clydesdale Bank building and several houses on Fife Street.
The Dufftown War Memorial is on Balvenie Street. It remembers people from the town who died in the First World War and Second World War. It's a bronze cross on a granite pillar, with a garden nearby.
Transport in Dufftown
The railway first came to Dufftown in 1862. The station closed to regular passengers in 1968. However, in 2003, the Keith and Dufftown Railway Association reopened the line as a special heritage railway. Now, you can take a fun train ride on this old line.
The main road through Dufftown is the A941. This road goes through the center of town.
Education in Dufftown
Mortlach Primary School teaches children of primary school age in Dufftown. The school building was built in 1902.
Dufftown does not have its own secondary school. Older students usually go to Speyside High School in a nearby town called Aberlour.
Religion in Dufftown
The old Mortlach Parish Church is on the southern edge of Dufftown. It's a very old site of Christian worship.
Today, the area of Mortlach is also known as a titular see for the Catholic Church. This means it's a historical name used for a bishop's area, even if there isn't a bishop living there now. A Catholic Church called St Mary’s was built in Dufftown in 1824.
Notable people from Dufftown
- Leslie Benzies was born in Aberdeen but grew up in Dufftown. He was a very important person at Rockstar North, the company that makes the famous Grand Theft Auto video games.
- Dame Helen Carruthers Mackenzie was born here in 1859. She was a health campaigner, meaning she worked to improve public health.
- George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen was born in Dufftown. He was one of the people who helped create the Canadian Pacific Railway, a very important railway in Canada.
- William Grant, Lord Grant (1909–1972) was born in Dufftown. He was a politician and a judge.
- William Robertson Nicoll was a writer and a Free Church Minister in Dufftown.
See also
In Spanish: Dufftown para niños
