Welcome to Crathes
A small, rural community on Royal Deeside
Crathes Community Website
A very warm welcome to Crathes. We hope that you enjoy living in Crathes as much as we do! As you go through the process of buying a new home and moving in, you will doubtless be keen to discover all about your new environment and community. This web-page has been created to try and help you settle in, to understand where things are, how things work and above all, help you integrate into the community. It is no secret that the Crathes residents have been broadly opposed to the Stewart Milne development. It was felt that such a large development of 45 houses (original proposal was 70) may swamp the community and destroy the very attributes that make Crathes special. However, nothing can stand still and expansion is inevitable. The existing community is now embracing the changes, aims to make the new residents feel welcome and encourage them to play a part in community affairs. Crathes is a rural community. The village is surrounded by fields, woods and hills. And like many rural villages we have no post office, no convenience store and little by way of services. We have street lamps, broadband, occasional snow clearance and a refuse collection but that’s about it. By the time you move in, the centre of the village will be on mains gas. The Crathes Village Hall is the centre of social life in the community. Below is some information that we feel may be of benefit to you in settling in and making your new life in Crathes, enjoyable. Milk and papers are not delivered to Crathes households General shopping There are no shops in Crathes and most residents shop in Banchory where there is a Teso, Morrisons and a number of stores in the High Street. Some people prefer to visit Asda in Portlethen, Tesco, M&S and Costco in Westhill or Asda and Sainsbury’s at Bridge of Dee. Specialist shopping Banchory Farmer’s Market - 3rd Saturday of the month in Scott Skinner Square Garden Centres - Banchory Raemoir Garden Centre, Mains of Drum, Bridge of Dee, Lang Stracht and Stonehaven. Furniture and interiors - Duncans of Banchory, Taylors of Banchory, Jonathan Rose Furniture Kitchens - Drumoak Kitchens Firewood - Wuid Chips Hardware - Banchory Store and Mitchell’s in High Street, BuildBase and Raemoir Garden Centre Garages - Caldwell and Dempster, Philip Burnett, Fareview at Drumoak and Framor, Petrol - Morrisons, Tesco, BP in Peterculter and Campfield Gifts and Artwork - Milton Gallery and Retail Centre at MIlton of Crathes, Finzean Estate Shop Trades and services Electricians - Stuart Steel, Phil G Electricians Gardeners - Roy Cowie Chimney sweep - Kenny Paterson in Lumphanan Storage units - McIntosh Serviced offices - Banchory Business Centre, Brathens Eco Business Park Carwash, Valeting and Carpet cleaning - UltraClean Schools Crathes School (about 3km north of the village), Hill of Banchory, Banchory Primary, Drumoak, Durris Banchory Academy Community facilities: Crathes Village Hall Doctor - Banchory Group Practice Dentist - there are three in Banchory - Fountainlodge, Banchory Dental Practice and R H Bain Opticians - both in the High Street Recreation and Sport Deeside Way - runs from near your new home east to Aberdeen and west to Ballater. Cycling, Walking and riding. Cricket - Banchory Cricket Club Croquet - Crathes Croquet Club Curling - Banchory Curling Club Bowling - Drumoak, Durris & Crathes Bowling Club Golf - Banchory Golf Club and Inchmarlo Golf Club Rugby - Deeside RFC at Woodend Football - Banchory St Ternan FC, Banchory Amateurs and Banchory Boys Club Cycling - Fishing - Raemoir Trout Fishery, Knockburn Loch and various salmon beats on the River Dee Hillwalking - Swimming - Paintball - Battleground Paintball Shooting - Rough shooting, deer stalking, clay pigeon shooting and target shooting Horseriding - Drumfrennine Stables Canoeing Social Don’t miss the monthy Crathes ‘fly in the village hall on the first Saturday of each month There are also various events in Crathes Hall which are advertised on the website. These include concerts, plays and social events. The hall (capacity around 100) can also be hired. Clubs Banchory British Legion Banchory Round Table Banchory Rotary Club WRI Young Farmers Club A full list of clubs in the Banchory area can be found here Clubs for younger people Cubs Brownies Scouts Venture Scouts Duke of Edinburgh Award Air Training Squadron Events Both the Milton Events Field and Crathes Castle hold a range of events throughout the year and these include: Crathes Vintage Car & Motorcycle Rally (May) Deeside Steam and Vintage Rally (August) The Enchanted Castle (November) Rugby Club Car boot sale (April) Easter egg hunt Craft fairs Battle re-enactments Countryside and nature tours Places to visit Crathes Castle Milton Gallery and Retail Centre Drum Castle Royal Deeside Railway Bridge of Feugh Scolty Hill and Monument Hill of Fare Go Ape at Crathes Castle Segway Aberdeen at Maryculter