Banff and Macduff

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<tr><td style="width: 50%;">Gaelic:</td><td>Banbh / MacDhuibh</td></tr>

Banff and MacDuff
Location
Image:Banff-Scotland (Location).png
OS grid reference:	NJ687642
Statistics
Population:	3,920 (Banff, 2004) 3,870 (MacDuff, 2004) See [1]

Administration
Council area:	Aberdeenshire
Constituent country:	Scotland
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Other
Police force:	Grampian Police
Lieutenancy area:	Banffshire
Former county:	Banffshire
Post office and telephone
Post town:	BANFF / MACDUFF
Postal district:	AB45 1xx (Banff) AB44 1xx (MacDuff)
Dialling code:	01261
Politics
Scottish Parliament:	Banff and Buchan
UK Parliament:	Banff and Buchan
European Parliament:	Scotland
Image:Flag of Scotland.svg

This article is about the towns in Scotland. For the fictional Shakespearean character, Macduff, see Macduff (thane).

The Royal Burgh of Banff (Gaelic Banbh) and the burgh of Macduff (Gaelic MacDhuibh) are neighbouring burghs in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Prior to 1975 Banff was the county town of Banffshire, and this is sometimes still given in postal addresses.

1 Attractions and history
2 Sport
3 Etymology
4 Notable residents

[edit] Attractions and history

Banff lies on the west bank, and Macduff on the east bank of the mouth of the River Deveron, around 20 miles west of Fraserburgh. The towns have an aquarium, golf course, beaches, and are home to the Colleonard Sculpture Park. The well-preserved townscape has many historic buildings. Also close by is Duff House, designed by William Adam in 1730, and now open to the public as a gallery and a part of the National Gallery of Scotland.

Many of the nearby villages also contribute to tourism in the area; in particular Gardenstown and Pennan. Banff's Tourist Information Centre opens during the summer and can be found by the car park en route to Banff Bridge and Macduff. Their audio tours provide an insight into the town, its history and architecture.

Banff and Macduff don't quite merge, but are separated by the valley of the River Deveron. This unpredictable river was only finally tamed by the seven arched bridge completed in 1799 by John Smeaton, famed for the Eddystone Lighthouse. An earlier bridge had been built in 1765, but was swept away in 1768. The old ferry was brought back into use, until it was lost in a flood in 1773.

Though no longer a commercial port, the harbour still serves leisure traffic and small fishing boats.

The Canadian Banff National Park and town of Banff are named after Banffshire.

[edit] Sport

Banff and surrounding areas have a local football team, Deveronvale F.C.. Duff House Royal Golf course is bordered by the River Deveron and Duff House.Some interesting holes which can be difficult depending on the wind.

[edit] Etymology

The name "Banff" is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Banbh or Banbha, which was one of the old poetic names for Ireland. Currently, the languages spoken in the town and in its vicinity tend to be the Doric dialect of Scots, or English