These roads had naturally to lead to fords in the rivers, and, when
bridges came to be built, it was just as natural that they should be
placed in the line of established routes. When the Bridge of Alford was
built over the Don in 1810-11 and the Bridge of Potarch over the Dee in
1812-13, a new line of road was made across country to connect them. It
went from Dess through Lumphanan and Leochel to the Don valley.
The first turnpike made in Aberdeenshire was the road from the Bridge
of Dee to the city of Aberdeen _viâ_ Holborn Street, which completed
the northern section of the great post-road between Edinburgh and
Aberdeen. This was in 1796.
About the same time was made the North Deeside Road reaching from
Aberdeen to Aboyne and thence to Ballater, Crathie, and Braemar, where
it met the Cairnwell Road. Another was the Aberdeen and Tarland route,
which went by Skene and Echt with branches joining on to those already
in existence. One of these struck off at Skene, and, crossing the hill
of Tilliefourie, proceeded to Alford. It was afterwards extended up
the Strath by Mossat, and Glenkindie to Corgarff, where it met General
Wade’s road.
The great post-road from Aberdeen to Inverness went by Woodside,
Bucksburn, Kintore, Inverurie, the Glens of Foudland to Huntly and
Cairnie on the boundary of Banffshire. It had branches from Huntly to
Portsoy through Rothiemay and to Banff through Forgue by the Bridge of
Marnoch.
The Strathbogie Road from Huntly to Donside by way of Gartly, Rhynie,
and Lumsden joined the Strathdon Road at Mossat. Though by no means the
most convenient, it is still used as the route along which the mails
are conveyed to Strathdon.
The Aberdeen and Banff Road left the post-road at Bucksburn and passing
through Dyce, New Machar, Old Meldrum, Fyvie, Turriff, and King Edward
made for the Bridge of Banff.
In the eastern district the most important route was that to Peterhead.
It crossed the new Bridge of Don, and, passing through Belhelvie,
Ellon, and Cruden, came to Peterhead by the coast. From there it went
straight across country to Banff by Longside, Mintlaw, New Pitsligo,
and Byth, thence over the Longmanhill to Macduff. Later a coast route
was made connecting Peterhead and Fraserburgh, by way of St Fergus,
Crimond and Lonmay. Another continuation of it was along the coast past
Rosehearty, Pennan, Gardenstown and Troup Head into Banffshire.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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