{{infobox UK place

|country = Scotland

|official_name= Aboyne

|scots_name= Abyne[http://www.scots-online.org/dictionary/read.asp?letter=A&CurPage=3 The Online Scots Dictionary].[http://www.scotslanguage.com/books/view/1/823/Names%20in%20Scots%20-%20Places%20in%20Scotland Scots Language Centre: Scottish Place Names in Scots]

|gaelic_name= Abidh[http://www.gaelicplacenames.org/databasedetails.php?id=825 Ainmean-ite na h-Alba ~ Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland]

|static_image_name=Aboyne, the Green and Charlestown Road.jpg

|static_image_caption=The Green in Aboyne

| population = 2,202

| population_ref = {{cite web|publisher=Scotland's Census Results Online|title =Comparative Population Profile: Aboyne Locality | url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=aboyne&mainLevel=Locality | date = 2001-04-29| accessdate =2008-08-31 }} ([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 census]])

est. 2,180http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data (2006)

|os_grid_reference= NO527986

|latitude=57.076617

|longitude=-2.779493

|map_type=Scotland

|unitary_scotland= [[Aberdeenshire]]

|lieutenancy_scotland=[[Aberdeenshire]]

|constituency_westminster= [[West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (UK Parliament constituency)|West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine]]

|constituency_scottish_parliament= [[Aberdeenshire West (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Aberdeenshire West]]

|post_town= ABOYNE

|postcode_district = AB34

|postcode_area= AB

|dial_code= 013398

}}

'''Aboyne''' ({{lang-sco|Abyne}}, {{lang-gd|Abidh}}) is a [[village]] on the edge of the [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]] in [[Aberdeenshire]], [[Scotland]], on the [[River Dee, Aberdeenshire|River Dee]], approximately {{convert|30|mi}} west of [[Aberdeen]]. It has a rugby club, which plays on The Green and also has a swimming pool, a golf course with 18 holes, all-weather tennis courts, and a bowling green. [[Aboyne Castle]] and the [[Loch of Aboyne]] are nearby.

Aboyne has many businesses, including a supermarket (Co-op),[http://www.cooponline.coop/cgi-bin/external/locator.cgi?page=further&OfflineID=12536&category=Food&postcode=aboyne Aboyne location map] two banks, several hairdressers, a butcher, a newsagent, an [[Indian cuisine|Indian]] restaurant and a post office. Originally, there was a [[Aboyne railway station|railway station]] in the village, but it was closed on 18 June 1966. The station now contains some shops and the tunnel running under the village is now home to a firearms club. The market-day in Aboyne was known as ''Fill Mhcheil'' (Scottish Gaelic for "Michael's Fair").

==History==

The locale was inhabited since very early times with the west wing of Aboyne Castle dated to 1671 [[AD]].[[John Mackintosh (historian)|John Mackintosh]], [http://books.google.com/books?id=MGQLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA120 ''History of the Valley of the Dee, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day''] The siting of the castle itself is related to the limited number of the crossings of the [[Mounth]] of the [[Grampian Mountains]] to the south. [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18037 C. Michael Hogan, ''Elsick Mounth'', Megalithic Portal, ed A. Burnham, 2007]

In 1715 Aboyne was the scene of a tinchal, or great hunt, organised by John Erskine, sixth Earl of Mar, on 3 September, as a cover for the gathering of Jacobite nobles and lairds to discuss a planned [[Jacobite uprising]]. The uprising began three days later in [[Braemar]]. J.Baynes, ''The Jacobite Rising of 1715'' (1970), pp. 35-36

==Tourism and culture==

[[Image:Aboyne pics 012 (Large).jpg|thumb|200px|left|Aboyne as seen from the "Fungle" footpath.]]

In summer, when tourists visit, the number of people and vehicles increase dramatically. The [[Highland games|Highland Games]] on The Village Green is a notable feature in August and the population of the village doubles. However, Aboyne is unusual in having The Green on which events are held, as the village was modeled by one of the first [[Marquesses of Huntly]] (inhabitants of Aboyne Castle) on a traditional English village with a green at the centre. Few Scottish towns have such an asset.

The [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Royal Family]] are residents in nearby [[Balmoral Castle]] during the Summer.

There are many outdoor pursuits available including walking, cycling, and most notably, gliding from the airfield just outside the village. Aboyne has become extremely popular with [[gliding]] enthusiasts from all over Britain and Europe due to its uniquely suitable [[Lee waves|air currents]] (due to the surrounding terrain). The airfield has a webcam[http://www.meto.gov.uk/weather/europe/uk/webcam/aboyne/ Aboyne Airfield Webcam] and small weather monitoring centre [http://www.meto.gov.uk/weather/europe/uk/obs/aboyne.html Aboyne meteorological data] on its premises. It is the only gliding airfield in Scotland to boast of having a tarmac runway, of which it has two in parallel which run east-west.

The close-by pass of [[Ballater]] is a popular rock-climbing area. The village of [[Dinnet]] is a few miles west and is the first being located inside the famous Cairngorms National Park. Walkers and cyclists can ascend [[Mount Keen]] by cycling as far as they can from Glen Tanar forest before walking to the summit.

There are also many more leisurely activities, such as sitting at local cafes and viewing various attractions. Aboyne is also a good place for younger children, as there is a large green which includes facilities for rugby and football and a play park.

There are two schools, an academy and a primary school. The academy has around 650 pupils, about a third from Aboyne itself, with the remaining two thirds from surrounding villages. The school has access to a full size swimming pool and gym run by the adjacent Deeside Community Centre.

== References ==

{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==

{{commonscat}}

* [http://www.Aboyne281.com Lodge Charleston of Aboyne No. 281]

* [http://www.aboyneacademy.com Aboyne Academy Website]

* [http://www.scottishrugby.org/sru/community-rugby/club-rugby/aboynerfc Aboyne Rugby Football Club hosted at the SRU]

* [http://www.aboyne-rfc.co.uk Aboyne Rugby Football Club]

* [http://www.aboynedinnetchurch.org.uk Aboyne-Dinnet Church]

* [http://deesideglidingclub.co.uk/ Deeside Gliding Club]

* {{gbmapping|NO525985}}

* [http://www.linksland.com/?p=2553 Aboyne Golf Club video]

* [http://www.riverfellowship.org.uk River Fellowship]

* [http://www.aboyneanddeesidefestival.org.uk The Aboyne and Deeside festival]

{{Marr, Aberdeenshire places|state=uncollapsed}}

{{Aberdeenshire places|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Villages in Aberdeenshire]]

[[Category:Post towns in the AB postcode area]]