Cromar
Encyclopedia
Cromar is an area in Aberdeenshire
, north east Scotland
thirty miles inland from Aberdeen
. It is also known as the Howe of Cromar.
Surrounded by a sweep of hills, dominated by Morven
871m (2655 feet), this lower lying area is a mixture of farming, forestry and settlements, principally Tarland
and Logie Coldstone
. It is near to Aboyne
and the Muir of Dinnet
.
The area has evidence of human habitation going back to 4000 BC, notably the Recumbent Stone circle
at Tomnaverie, a souterrain
or earth house at Culsh, as well as numerous burial cairns, lesser stone circles, Bronze Age fortifications and Pictish Stones
. These antiquities point the existence of several distinct cultures living in the Cromar over the millennia.
Shouldering Morven is Culblean, the site of the Battle of Culblean
in 1335. Running off the same hill is the Burn o’ Vat, here the burn has carved a cauldron like gorge in the granite. This was the hideout of the notorious 18th century outlaw Gilderoy McGregor.
As with most of Royal Deeside, there are a number of minor mansions in the area, including Blelack
, Tillypronie, Douneside and Alastrean House.
The land is mainly put to farming cattle and sheep. There are a number of commercial forest plantations but also areas of natural birch woodland. The higher ground around the Cromar is heather moorland, much of it maintained for grouse shooting. Pheasants are a common sight lower down. The area also has a population of Red Squirrels.
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, north east Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
thirty miles inland from Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
. It is also known as the Howe of Cromar.
Surrounded by a sweep of hills, dominated by Morven
Morven
-Scotland:* Morven, Aberdeenshire, a mountain near Ballater* Morven, Caithness, mountain in northern Scotland* Morrone , a mountain near Braemar in Aberdeenshire* Morvern, peninsula in west Scotland...
871m (2655 feet), this lower lying area is a mixture of farming, forestry and settlements, principally Tarland
Tarland
Tarland is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland and is located five miles northwest of Aboyne, and 30 miles west of Aberdeen. Population 540 ....
and Logie Coldstone
Logie Coldstone
Logie Coldstone is an Aberdeenshire village north of the River Dee, near Tarland in the Cromar, a basin of land cut out of the Grampian foothills between Aboyne and Ballater.-See also:*Royal Deeside*Blelack...
. It is near to Aboyne
Aboyne
Aboyne is a village on the edge of the Highlands in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the River Dee, approximately west of Aberdeen. It has a rugby club, which plays on The Green and also has a swimming pool, a golf course with 18 holes, all-weather tennis courts, and a bowling green...
and the Muir of Dinnet
Muir of Dinnet
Muir of Dinnet is an area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland designated as a National Nature Reserve because of its value as a habitat for flora and fauna, and important geomorphological features....
.
The area has evidence of human habitation going back to 4000 BC, notably the Recumbent Stone circle
Stone circle
A stone circle is a monument of standing stones arranged in a circle. Such monuments have been constructed across the world throughout history for many different reasons....
at Tomnaverie, a souterrain
Souterrain
Souterrain is a name given by archaeologists to a type of underground structure associated mainly with the Atlantic Iron Age. These structures appear to have been brought northwards from Gaul during the late Iron Age. Regional names include earth houses, fogous and Pictish houses...
or earth house at Culsh, as well as numerous burial cairns, lesser stone circles, Bronze Age fortifications and Pictish Stones
Pictish stones
Pictish stones are monumental stelae found in Scotland, mostly north of the Clyde-Forth line. These stones are the most visible remaining evidence of the Picts and are thought to date from the 6th to 9th centuries, a period during which the Picts became Christianized...
. These antiquities point the existence of several distinct cultures living in the Cromar over the millennia.
Shouldering Morven is Culblean, the site of the Battle of Culblean
Battle of Culblean
The Battle of Culblean was fought on 30 November 1335, during the Second War of Scottish Independence. It was a victory for the Scots led by the Guardian, Sir Andrew Murray over an Anglo-Scots force commanded by David III Strathbogie, titular Earl of Atholl, and a leading supporter of Edward...
in 1335. Running off the same hill is the Burn o’ Vat, here the burn has carved a cauldron like gorge in the granite. This was the hideout of the notorious 18th century outlaw Gilderoy McGregor.
As with most of Royal Deeside, there are a number of minor mansions in the area, including Blelack
Blelack
Blelack is a place in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the location of Blelack House, a Scottish mansion house with origins in the seventeenth century....
, Tillypronie, Douneside and Alastrean House.
The land is mainly put to farming cattle and sheep. There are a number of commercial forest plantations but also areas of natural birch woodland. The higher ground around the Cromar is heather moorland, much of it maintained for grouse shooting. Pheasants are a common sight lower down. The area also has a population of Red Squirrels.