The best road cycling routes around Whitehills And District

A graceful rock arch which looks great from the shore and is even better to kayak through!

The Burn of Boyne is a small river which flows through Banffshire, entering the Moray Firth in Boyne Bay, just east of Portsoy. The ruins of Boyne Castle stand close to the river's mouth.

The Biggar Fountain is an ornate Victorian Gothic drinking fountain with crown head, designed by John Rhind in 1878, commemorates Walter Biggar, one of the founders of the herring trade with the Baltic. The inscription on the Biggar fountain reads 'Presented to the town of Banff in Memory of Walter Biggar Esq. And Mrs. Anne Duff, his wife. 1878.' Biblical inscriptions on the East and West panels.

The cross depicts the Crucifixion on one side and on the other the Virgin and Child. The Mercat Cross originally stood where the Biggar fountain now stands, but because of it's size and it's interference with the traffic was removed in 1767 and custody given to the Earl of Fife, who erected the capital on top of a dovecote at NJ682 632. In 1900 the cross was restored within the bounds of the burgh, and in 1994 an exact replica of the 16th century cross, polychromed as it would originally have been, was placed on its 17th century shaft, and restored to almost it's original location. The original carving was placed in Banff Museum. The Reformation in Scotland was begun by John Knox in 1541, and eventually led to a widespread destruction of artworks and manuscripts by iconoclasts. The Mercat Cross survived and was given a new shaft in 1627. It is a rare survival of such overtly religious pre reformation work.

The church (formerly known as St Mary's) dates from 1778. It is attached to the current hall complex which was built in the 1930s. In the late 1920s a chancel was added, to which the organ was removed. The Roman Doric pilastered tower and tall Gibbsian spire, a prominent landmark, was added in around 1828.

Although golf is supposed to have been played in Banff for 400 years, it was only in May 1871 that organised golf was conceived when the then Banff Golf Club was formed at the Banff links. The Banff Golf Club continued in existence with varying degrees of success until 1924. The Duff House Golf Club came into existence following a gift of land to the towns of Banff and Macduff by the then Duke of Fife following his concern at "the want of ground for golf and other recreational sports." The original course in its present location was laid out in 1909.

Prior to 1768, the kirk-going inhabitants of Down walked each Sunday to the Parish Church of Gamrie, a distance of some 8 miles. In that year, a building in Schoolhill was fitted out as a chapel. This was the first church building in the town. Interesting details are recorded regarding the erection of a steeple at the cost of 1.15 and the provision of a bell at a cost of 8 guineas. Prior to 1768, the kirk-going inhabitants of Down walked each Sunday to the Parish Church of Gamrie, a distance of some 8 miles. In that year, a building in Schoolhill was fitted out as a chapel. This was the first church building in the town. Interesting details are recorded regarding the erection of a steeple at the cost of 1.15 and the provision of a bell at a cost of 8 guineas. By the end of the 18th century, a larger building was needed to accommodate the increasing church membership and in 1805 the Church on its present site was built with the support and encouragement of the Earl of Fife.

Category B listed granite cross incorporating small carved plaque at apex, inscribed narrow slabs as arms mounted on square tooled granite plinth. Carving on apex depicts a figure on horseback and bears the arms of the Earl of Fife. Dated 1783 but incorporating earlier fragments. The cross bears the inscription, on 2 panels one on either side: Macduff Cross. Rebuilt at Macduff by the Earl of Fife, 1783 when the town was constituted a Royal Burgh by George III. May it flourish, increase in number and opulence, ----- while it's inhabitants gain the blessing of life by industry, diligence and temperance." The words on the inscription are taken to refer to the fact that a stone was taken from the ancient Macduff Cross in Fife and built into the Macduff one, to form some sort of symbolic connection between the ancient and modern bearers of the name Macduff. It's adjacent to a large fixed tine iron anchor with wooden crossbeam from a sailing ship.