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| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIVER DON | River Don | Continued | north. It divides, for a short distance, into two branches, which reunite, enclosing a river-island to the north of the Royal burgh of Kintore. Between Fintray and Dyce it is bordered by mountains on both sides, with valuable plantations on the northern or Fintray side. It then turns southward, still dividing the parishes on its line, to Old Machar parish in the freedom of the city of Aberdeen, whence it turns to the east, by the city or old town, to its confluence with the sea, little more than a mile to the northward of the Dee, where it forms a kind of harbour, into which small craft may enter in safety, but where no trade of any importance can be carried on. "About a century ago" says Mr Kennedy in his "Annals of Aberdeen", "the channel of the Don near the town was altered, and the stream diverted straight into the sea about a mile further north-ward than its ancient efflux." In a note, he adds, "Probably at some very remote period, Don had continued its former course still further southward down the hollow of the links, till it united with Dee in the harbour, and both together would form one stream into the ocean. Such conjecture is in some measure confirmed by the works of Ptolemy and Richard of Cirencester, there being no such River as Don delineated in their maps, or even mentioned in their tables, while Diva (Dee) and Ituna (Ythan) in the district of the Taixalii, are particularly noticed. In the earlier records of the burgh, the River Don is distinguished solely by the name of Aqua Borealis." As this river runs with considerable rapidity during the last 8 miles of its course, and as the rocks at its mouth confine it to a narrow channel, and give it there a gloomy aspect, the idea of its flowing rapidly through a ragged and mountainous country, where no space is left for forming even a commodious road along its banks, is at first induced, but after passing upwards for about a mile beyond the rocky chasm where was built the spacious, stately, and attractive Gothic arch, constituting the the celebrated Brig o' Balgownie, and up to whose locality alone the Don is navigable even for small craft, the hills recede as far from the river as to form spacious haughs or level valleys on either side, through which it winds in a slow majestic course. Nor is the prospect here uniform, but agreeably diversified. The hills above Inverury approach close to the river, which seems to have forced its way with difficulty through them; but all at once it opens into another spacious plain, from which the hills recede on either hand to a great distance, and then close again; and, after another temporary confinement among rocks and hills and woods, the River once more waters another plain of great extent. Such is the general character of the Don,- nowhere rapid, but in general flowing through level fields so little elevated above its usual surface, that, when violent rain falls, it bursts its banks at once, and covers a great extent of country, which then appears to be an immense body of water interspersed with islands, houses, trees, and other rural objects. Too often on these occasions it commits extensive and calamitous depredations, - sweeping off whole fields of corn, and leaving nothing behind but want and desolation. *** A great part of the haugh land is now protected by embankments on the lands of Fintray and Wester Fintray, extending to upwards of 6000 ells in length, and protecting from 200 to 300 Scotch acres of very fine rich land, from the river floods. Similar embankments have been made for the protection of the haugh lands in most other parts of the River's course." Fullarton's Gazeteer of Scotland |
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[Page] 32Aberdeenshire Parish of Kemnay
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