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Local Information

Banff & Buchan Arts Forum

The Banff and Buchan Arts Forum is a voluntary organisation. It works in association with Aberdeenshire Council's arts development team, to promote the arts and to serve the interests of the arts constituency, of both artists and audience, in the North Aberdeenshire area of north east Scotland. We also promote the arts and artists of the region.

http://www.bbaf-arts.org.uk/

To see events around the home of the
Scottish Traditional Boat Festival click the box
then choose the type of event that interests you

Coast

The annual festival of the visual arts will be held for the first time in Banff and Macduff on 23rd to 26th May 2008 to deliver the vision of Banffshire Coast tourism strategy through the development of a national and internationally important visual arts festival.

The festival aims to appeal to all visitors including families, arts buyers and appreciators and the community as a whole and also aims to attract all comers from local residents to tourists from far and wide.

http://www.coastfestival.org.uk/

The Banffshire Journal

For many years the Banffie has been the prime source of local news. It carries most of the press releases from the Boat Festival and covers it very well in the summer.

http://www.banffshire-journal.co.uk/

A' the best fae Banffshire

In 2004 the Banffshire Branch of the Royal Scottish Dance Society (RSCDS) published a book of locally inspired dances to celebrate their 75th anniversary. There is now also a CD to accompany the book

http://www.rscdsbanffshire.co.uk

Best of Banffshire

A gateway site with links to all kinds of useful local information

http://bestofbanffshire.co.uk

About Aberdeen

The information guide to the best attractions and places to visit in Aberdeenshire Scotland

http://www.aboutaberdeen.com/

The coastal trail

The coastline of the north-east of Scotland is one of the most fascinating, unspoilt and varied stretches of any in Britain. Many of the communities which have grown up by the edge of the sea have at one time earned their living from it.

Today the touring visitor can enjoy not just the picturesque former fishing villages and the larger fishing ports but also unspoilt beaches, spectacular cliffs, wildlife galore, eating out opportunities, heritage centres and museums, castle visiting - in short, the ingredients of a perfect break in some of the most distinctive and characterful parts of Scotland.

http://www.aberdeen-grampian.com/thecoastaltrail.htm

The Banffshire Coast, Scotland’s Treasure

Yet to discover Banffshire Coast? Explore what makes this part of Scotland so unique with our fascinating online guide

http://www.banffshirecoast.com/

Break away to Banff & Macduff

The area offers the visitor an abundance of activities - golfing - walking - cycling - fishing - ten pin bowling - swimming - painting holidays. Eating out is primarily traditionally Scottish, but don't be surprised if you find an international influence. Chefs here love the opportunity to use the freshest of locally caught seafood and adapt it to their own culinary skills.

http://www.banff-macduff.com/homeframe.html

The Environment

Scottish Natural Heritage
Our task is to secure the conservation and enhancement of Scotland's unique and precious natural heritage - the wildlife, the habitats and the landscapes which have evolved in Scotland through the long partnership between people and nature. Our work also includes access, education, landscape, casework, renewables and greenspace
http://www.snh.org.uk
AURORA Environmental
AURORA Environmental strives to be a market leader in the provision of high quality independent environmental consultancy services to the oil and gas, aquaculture and other marine, coastal and island industries.
http://www.aurora-environmental.com/

Tourism

The Banffshire Coast, Scotland’s Treasure
Yet to discover Banffshire Coast? Explore what makes this part of Scotland so unique with our fascinating online guide
http://www.banffshirecoast.com/
Cullen Bay Hotel
Our aim is simple - to welcome guests from all over the world to this unique stretch of coastline, help them enjoy all the exciting attractions and pursuits in the area, and introduce them to our wholesome Scottish menus and the warm hospitality for which Scotland is so justifiably famed.
http://www.cullenbayhotel.com/
Castle of Park
The beautiful and historic Castle of Park, hidden away in a secluded tree-lined park near the Moray coast in North-east Scotland, is gaining a new reputation for warm hospitality, great food and elegant accommodation. Park is famous for its first-rate Painting courses / holidays and Creative Writing courses, its Castle Parties, Getaway weekends, exclusive and intimate Business meetings and events - and, of course, unforgettable Castle Weddings...
http://www.castleofpark.net/
The Creative Retreat
Welcome to a space in which to invent, create, devise and think, or simply have a holiday, in an unspoiled coastal hideaway on the Banffshire Coast in North East Scotland. We provide comfortable self catering accommodation with access to unique artist studio spaces suitable for any number of activities - arts courses, creative holidays, a country retreat and time to relax.
http://www.creative-retreat.co.uk/
The Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society
The Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society exists to assist and promote the study of genealogy and family history based on the North East corner of Scotland. This area covers the old counties of Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire and Morayshire.
http://www.anesfhs.org.uk/
Duff House

Duff House is a treasure house and cultural arts centre operated by a unique partnership of Historic Scotland, the National Galleries of Scotland and Aberdeenshire Council. Story-tellers, musicians and artists are at home here and Duff House organises a regular artistic programme of exhibitions, music and lectures.

It will host a collection of photos of the 2007 Festival from Thursday 7 February to Sunday 27 April 2008 - click HERE

http://www.duffhouse.org.uk/

Music Maker - guide to performers, venues, gigs, gear and services

The Music Maker Association is dedicated to promoting independent musicians, record labels and live music. Its magazine covers all styles of music from traditional to contemporary song writing.

http://www.musicmaker.org.uk

Maritime

National Historic Ships

National Historic Ships is a Non Departmental Public Body advising the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on national historic ship preservation and funding priorities.

It also advises the Heritage Lottery Fund and other public funding bodies on preservation priorities and individual applications. It also acts as a focus for advice on aspects of the preservation of historic vessels and maintains the National Register of Historic Vessels.

http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/

Whitehills Marina
Whitehills is a Trust Harbour, established by Act of Parliament in 1895, and is fully maintained and run by nine elected Commissioners from the village. It has been run this way since the Harbour was built in 1900.

Whitehills was a very successful fishing port up until 1999, when due to changes in the fishing industry, the Commissioners decided to develop it as a Marina. This has proved to be an outstanding success as you will see if you visit the website, or indeed the marina itself!
http://www.whitehillsharbour.co.uk/

Buckie and District Fishing Heritage Centre
The Heritage Centre exists to preserve the rich fishing heritage of Buckie and District and to provide assistance to research and gather information on the past, present and future history of this area. There are currently over 440 members worldwide.

The Heritage Cottage is staffed by volunteers on a rota basis. It contains an extremely large collection of artefacts many of which are not on display due to the lack of space. The majority of the artefacts have been gifted by local people. Our collection of model boats is one of the largest in the North East of Scotland and albums available for perusal by the public contain well over 7000 photographs. A comprehensive database is available which lists all boats built in local boatyards. A small reference library of local history and fishing boats is maintained for the use of the members and visitors
http://www.buckieheritage.org

The Green Blue
If you are in the marine business, enjoy boating or are a watersports enthusiast, the Green Blue has practical advice and information to help you think and act in an environmentally conscious way. Inland or coastal, individual or boating business, there is something here for you.

By taking a few simple steps, you can keep future costs down and sustain high quality water and local environments. Backed by the British Marine Federation and the Royal Yachting Association, The Green Blue is testing out practical projects, conducting research and providing advice, to help recreational boating go green.
http://www.thegreenblue.org.uk/

Macduff Marine Aquarium
 Macduff Marine Aquarium features marine life from the Moray Firth, Scotland’s largest bay. Visitors come face to face with hundreds of native fish and invertebrates normally only seen by SCUBA divers who brave the chilly waters of the North Sea. The aquarium’s deep central exhibit, which displays a living kelp reef, is the only one of its kind in Britain and divers hand feed the fish on a regular basis.
http://www.macduff-aquarium.org.uk 
Join North 58° Sea Adventures, and the powerboat Buchaneer, for an exhilarating tour of the Moray Firth coastline and a fantastic wildlife watching experience.
http://www.north58.co.uk
Puffin Cruises offer daily sightseeing and fishing trips from Macduff Harbour along the scenic Moray Firth coastline which has an abundance of sea and bird life that includes puffins, whales and dolphins.
http://www.puffincruises.com/
Sail Hebrides

"10th Anniversary Hebridean Maritime Festival"  14-19 July 08
Stornoway Harbour, Outer Hebrides

Traditional and modern boats welcome to sea and land attractions - sailing challenges, dinghy tuition, BBQ, free berthing, music, cooking and receptions.

See www.sailhebrides.info
Contact info@sailhebrides.info

North Sea Yacht Race, Macduff

The 25th anniversary of the North Sea Yacht Race will be celebrated in style in the Banffshire Coast. The race will launch from Macduff at 12 noon on Saturday 28th June 2008 on its way to Stavanger in Norway.

A whole range of Quayside events have been organised for participants and visitors to launch the stunning race. This includes a local craft fair, local music and fun and games for all the family. On Friday 27th June there will be a Ceilidh at the Waterfront Hotel, Macduff and a teen disco. To celebrate the 25th anniversary an exhibition will also look back on the long maritime history of the area.

To find out more about the race see
www.banffstavangeryachtrace.org.uk 

The Steam Boat Association of Great Britain

To foster and encourage steam boating and the building, development, preservation and restoration of steam boats and steam machinery.

http://www.steamboat.org.uk/

local information  :  the environment  :  tourism  :  maritime