Banffshire
Banffshire Siorrachd Bhanbh | |||
Location Map ( geo) | |||
| |||
Other Important Destinations | |||
Banff • Buckie • Dufftown • Keith | |||
Current Highway Authorities | |||
Aberdeenshire Council • Moray Council | |||
Borders | |||
Aberdeenshire • Inverness-shire • Moray | |||
Transport Scotland Roads | |||
A95 • A96 | |||
The historic county of Banffshire lies between Moray and Aberdeenshire in the North East of Scotland. It is a long, thin county, almost split in to two pieces at Keith, and now administered by council areas named after its two neighbours, as it is currently covered by Moray Council and Aberdeenshire Council.
Geography & Economy
The county is not just squeezed in shape at Keith, its character also changes. To the north is the wide, fertile coastal plain, with a rugged coastline of sandy bays, cliffs and quaint fishing villages. To the south, the foothills of the Cairngorms rise up from Strathspey to some of the country's highest peaks. The picturesque coast and mountains to the south both draw tourists, but more come for the famous distilleries of Speyside, Dufftown sometimes being referred to as the Whisky Capital, with half a dozen active distilleries in the town, and many more active and closed in the surrounding area.
The ports of Banff / Macduff and Buckie are still busy places, with large industrial areas, whilst the smaller villages in between are quieter these days, and mix fishing with marinas and tourism. The county is perhaps less prosperous than its neighbours, not being close enough to either Aberdeen or Inverness to benefit from their growth, but the A96 and railway line through Keith do offer commuting options.
Roads
The north of the county is well served by a network of A, B and unclassified roads. However, in the south of the county roads are fewer and further between, winding their way through the glens and climbing over the passes of the Cairngorms. The A939 in particular is a proper mountain road which is often closed in winter months, although the whole county is susceptible to snow in the winter.
All non trunk roads in the county are maintained by either Moray Council or Aberdeenshire Council. The Trunk roads, which include the A96 and most of the A95 are managed by Transport Scotland. Plans to upgrade the A96 to dual carriageway may eventually see a bypass of Keith, although this is likely to be the last section to be completed, as it carries the least through traffic, sometime in the 2030s.
A curiosity is that West Cathcart Street in Buckie, which is an unclassified residential street and passes two of the town's schools, but has no through traffic significance, is Britain's most northerly dual carriageway.
Route | From | To | Length |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
A95 | Aviemore (N) | Boyndie (SW) | 63 miles | View |
A96 | Inverness | Aberdeen | 101.5 miles | View |
A97 | Dinnet | Banff | 56.1 miles | View |
A98 | Fraserburgh | Fochabers | 51.1 miles | View |
A920 | Dufftown | Ellon | 46.1 miles | View |
A920 | Dufftown | Keith | 10.1 miles | View |
A939 | Nairn | Ballater | 59.6 miles | View |
A939 | Grantown on Spey | Cock Bridge | 21.5 miles | View |
A939 | Nairn | Ballater | 59.6 miles | View |
A941 | Lossiemouth | Rhynie | 41 miles | View |
A942 | Tollbar, Buckie | Cullen (W) | 6.8 miles | View |
A947 | Bucksburn | Banff | 40.7 miles | View |
A953 | Banff | Banff Harbour | 0.19 miles | View |
A990 | Broadley | Seatown, Buckie | 3.5 miles | View |
B975 | Low Road | Station Road | 0.4 miles | View |
B9002 | Mill of Carden | Elrick | 22.7 miles | View |
B9002 | Rhynie | Elrick | 5.9 miles | View |
B9008 | Tomintoul | Bridge of Avon | 13.4 miles | View |
B9009 | Dufftown | Auchbreck | 10.6 miles | View |
B9013 | Craigellachie | Lumsden | 21.5 miles | View |
B9014 | Dufftown | Keith | 10.1 miles | View |
B9014 | Dufftown | Huntly | 12.2 miles | View |
B9016 | Aultmore | Broadley | 6.8 miles | View |
B9017 | Aultmore | Montgrew | 2.9 miles | View |
B9018 | Cullen | Davoch of Grange(W) | 10.2 miles | View |
B9019 | Seafield Street | Portsoy New Harbour | 0.33 miles | View |
B9019 | Ianstown | Portknockie (S) | 5.1 miles | View |
B9020 | School Hill, Findochty | Station Road, Findochty | 0.5 miles | View |
B9021 | Station Road | Harbour | 0.3 miles | View |
B9022 | Huntly | Portsoy | 16.6 miles | View |
B9023 | Brodiesord | Aberchirder | 6.665 miles | View |
B9024 | Glen Dronach | Turriff | 8.2 miles | View |
B9025 | Broadley Bridge | Turriff | 13.5 miles | View |
B9026 | Macduff | Gellyhill | 1.099 miles | View |
B9031 | Fraserburgh | Macduff(E) | 20.4 miles | View |
B9038 | Whitehills | Inverboyndie | 1.189 miles | View |
B9103 | Lossiemouth | Mulben | 16.2 miles | View |
B9115 | Drummuir | Coachford (W) | 4.2 miles | View |
B9116 | Keith | Newmill | 1.3 miles | View |
B9117 | Farmtown | Marnoch | 8.0 miles | View |
B9118 | Woodside | Milltown of Rothiemay | 1.6 miles | View |
B9121 | Scotston (NW) | Whitehills | 9.293 miles | View |
B9122 | Ladysbridge | Whitehills | 1.2 miles | View |
B9123 | Dubford | Gardenstown | 1.499 miles | View |
B9136 | Urlarmore | Glenlivet | 8.7 miles | View |
B9137 | Bridge of Avon | Cragganmore | 0.8 miles | View |
B9138 | Marypark | Scootmore Forest | 1.0 mile | View |
B9139 | Portsoy | Inverboyndie | 4.606 miles | View |
B9142 | Collie Road | Banff Bridge | 0.709 miles | View |
C104L | Commercial Street | Blantyre Terrace | 0.1 miles | View |
C111L | View | |||
C15L | Scatterty | Ashogle | 2.5 miles | View |
C23L | Dubford | Bridge of Logie | 2.0 miles | View |
T30 | Perth | Inverness | View | |
T100 | Aberdeen | Fochabers | 55.3 miles | View |
Key
Junctions
Bridges, Tunnels, and other Crossings