OS1/1/64/9
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIVER DON | Don (The) the Don Don River River Don River Don River Don |
Fullarton's Gazetteer New Statistical Account Johnstone's Co. [County] Map Donside Guide Estate Plan, dated 1846 Mr James Porter |
053 | "A river of Aberdeenshire. It forms a sort of twin-stream to the Dee, and is next to that river in Aberdeenshire as regards at once basin, note and magnitude, and resembles it also in possessing much volume, and much fine scenery, with very little commercial importance; yet differs essentially from it in some great characters, and even presents some striking contrasts. It rises on the skirts of Ben Avon, 6 miles west of Curgarff, amongst the mountains which bound Aberdeenshire on the south west, at the head of Strath-Don, and which divide it from the head of Strath-Deveron in Banffshire. Its source is considerably lower than that of the Dee; the altitude is 1640 feet above sea-level. A great part of its run, though somewhat parallel to the Dee, and at no great distance from it, is through districts much less mountainous, and abounding far in plains and expanded meadows; so that, instead of the impetuosity and the fitfulness of the Dee, it displays a prevailing current of gentleness, calmness, and regularity. Running eastward in a very sinuous career, through the whole breadth of the county, it flows into the German Ocean on the north side of Aberdeen. Its whole length of course is about 62 miles, though in a direct line from its source to its termination, the distance is only 41 miles. In its earliest stretches through the parish of Strathdon, which it divides into two nearly equal parts, it is joined on both sides by 7or 8 burns, separated from each other by considerable hills, and most of them running through deep hollows, and glens. The principal are the Ernan and the Nochtie. All these burns abound with excellent trout; and salmon is even here very frequently found in the Don, at least towards the lower end of this parish. Turning northward, and dividing for a short distance the parish of Glenbucket from part of Migvie, it receives from the latter the Deskry, and from the former the Bucket. Then again flowing eastward, it passes through the parish of Towie; and winding northward, reinforced by other tributaries, round Gorieshill, it at once becomes remarkably enlarged near Westside; after which it resumes its eastern route, dividing various parishes, particularly Forbes and Alford, from the latter of which, on the south, it derives the waters of the Lochel, the most considerable tributary it has yet received. In passing hitherto through the high parts of the district of Alford, the Don flows through a narrow gullet, amongst the western mountains, while its banks are now partly wooded. Perpetually changing its course to the north and even the west, to the east and then through Monymusk parish to the south, the next considerable tributary which there enlarges it is the Ton burn from the south; when immediately it turns to the north again between Kemnay and part of Chapel-Garioch parishes, and arrives at a point a little to the south of the royal burgh of Inverury, where on its northern bank stands the building formerly occupied as the Roman Catholic college of Aquhorties. This point is about 16 miles from the source of the river, and its vicinity constitutes, perhaps the most interesting as well as important part of its whole course. Here at the Bass, a conical mount of considerable elevation standing in the midst of the confluence, it is joined by its principal tributary, the River Urie, from the district of Strathbogie. The Don, here very much increased by the water of the Urie, notwithstanding the previous diversion of a large portion of its waters into the Inverury canal, flows southward from the Bass, between the parish and the low lands of Kintore on the south, and the mountainous part of Keithall with Kinkell on the 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 runs southward, still dividing the parishes on its line, to Old Machar parish in the freedom of the city of Aberdeen, whence it turns to [continued on page 10] |
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[Page] 9Aberdeenshire -- Parish of Monymusk
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CorrieBuidhe- Moderator, June Lobban
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