Dufftown (Scottish Gaelic: Baile Bhainidh ['pal?'van??]) is a burgh in Moray, Scotland.
Historically part of Banffshire, Dufftown is in the ancient parish of Mortlach (Scottish Gaelic: Mòrthlach). The old Kirkton of Mortlach, with its historic church, is on the southern outskirts of the present town. In the 19th century, James Duff, 4th Earl Fife, established Dufftown as housing for soldiers returning home from the Napoleonic War.
In the Middle Ages, Mortlach (in Latin Murthlacum) was an episcopal see.
Dufftown hosts a highland games event every July which attracts many tourists.
Dufftown's notable buildings include Balvenie Castle, which was partly built with stones from the ruins of nearby Auchindoun Castle. The street plan of Dufftown is mainly four main roads meeting at the Dufftown Clock Tower; previously a prison but now a tourist information centre.
Video Dufftown
Episcopal see
The Diocese of Mortlach was one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The names of four bishops of the see are known:
- Beóán of Mortlach (fl. 1012)
- "Donercius"
- "Cormauch"
- Nechtan, who transferred the see to Aberdeen in April 1132, during the reign of King David I of Scotland.
Today, the Diocese of Mortlach, under its Latin name of Murthlacum, is a titular see of the Catholic Church.
Maps Dufftown
Climate
Dufftown has an oceanic climate typical of Northern Scotland, characterised by relatively mild, damp winters and cool cloudy summers. The area averages 76 air frosts a year. Like much of Europe, Dufftown's climate is insulated somewhat by the Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current originating near the gulf of Mexico. This warm ocean current makes Dufftown's climate significantly milder during the winter than expected for its latitude.
Whisky in Dufftown
Dufftown is located on the River Fiddich and is the location of several Scotch whisky distilleries. It produces more malt whisky than any other town in Scotland; in fact, a signpost on the way into Dufftown declares it the "Whisky Capital of the World". The largest and best known of the many surrounding distilleries is the Glenfiddich distillery that distills Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky. The Glenfiddich distillery is owned by William Grant & Sons, Dufftown's largest employer. This proliferation puts it on the famed Malt Whisky Trail, which also includes Keith, Glen Grant Distillery, Marypark, and Tomintoul.
The following distilleries have produced whisky in Dufftown.
Active distilleries
- Balvenie
- Dufftown
- Glendullan
- Glenfiddich
- Kininvie
- Mortlach
Former distilleries
- Convalmore
- Parkmore
- Pittyvaich
Popular culture
According to the third film in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Hogwarts, the main setting of the series, is said to be close to Dufftown by Hermione Granger, when the town is mentioned in an article in The Daily Prophet.
Notable people
- Leslie Benzies the president of Rockstar North, which produces the famous Grand Theft Auto game series amongst other games, was born in Aberdeen and grew up in Dufftown.
- Dame Helen Carruthers Mackenzie, health campaigner, was born here in 1859.
- George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen, one of the founders of the Canadian Pacific Railway was born in Dufftown.
- William Grant, Lord Grant (1909-1972), Unionist Member of Parliament, Lord Advocate and Lord Justice Clerk, born in Dufftown
See also
- Whisky
- List of whisky brands
- List of distilleries in Scotland
References
External links
Media related to Dufftown at Wikimedia Commons
- Scotland Census 2011
- Dufftown Website
- grid reference NJ325395
- Dufftown Golf Club
- Dufftown Football Club
- The Whisky Shop Dufftown
- Keith to Dufftown Railway
- Dufftown Highland Games
- Dufftown & District Pipe Band
- Dufftown Accommodation - Dullan Brae Accommodation
- Dufftown Accommodation - Highland Spirit Bed and Breakfast - 4 star
- National Library of Scotland: SCOTTISH SCREEN ARCHIVE (archive films about Dufftown)
Source of article : Wikipedia
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