New Pitsligo Tourist Information

Founded in 1787 by Sir William Forbes, a descendant of Alexander Forbes, the last Lord Pitsligo, who was Lt. Colonel to Bonny Prince Charlie in the 1745 uprising.

The historic mile long village of New Pitsligo began with a few hardy settlers responding to advertisements in the press offering houses and land for rent. The village has now grown to a population of over a thousand.

New Pitsligo is situated on the side of Turlundie Hill, surrounded by tranquil green countryside, most of which is now farmed.

The nearest town is the fishing port of Fraserburgh. The chief industry of the area today is farming, in particular the production of fine beef cattle the local beef is renowned for its quality.

In the past quarrying and stone masonry were major industries, and most of the older buildings are constructed of local granite.

A centre of Doric language and culture the traditional craft of lace making is still carried on and hand made lace can be bought in the village or made to order.

Peat cutting is another traditional craft and a few people still harvest peat in the old way.

With countless winding lanes to explore the village is an ideal centre for the keen walker. From the top of Turlundie Hill there are breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside and on a fine day you can even see the ocean sparkling on the horizon.

Just five miles away is the beautiful beach at New Aberdour with its red sandstone cliffs and bays and nearby is the famously picturesque little village of Pennan, which was the location of the film "Local Hero" and is very popular with artists.

The whole area in fact offers many attractive scenes along the dramatic coastline or in the rolling green countryside that would provide the artist or photographer with hours of enjoyment.

The village has two churches - the large and historic St.Johns(Episcopalian) and the Parish Church (Church of Scotland).

There are three pubs, two general stores, a chemists and a bakers. The bakers has a long history in the village and still bakes its own bread. There is a modern health centre to cater for the health needs of residents and visitors alike.

Public transport connects the village to Fraserburgh and the city of Aberdeen.

The nearby village of Strichen by the river Ugie is famous for the white horse on the hill overlooking the area. This landmark is fairly modern, but is a striking sight.

The best times to visit New Pitsligo are late spring when the spring bulbs and local scenery are especially lovely and September when there are two major events in the village - the Flower Show on the first Saturday of the month and the Art Show on the last weekend.

The climate can be cold and windy at times so take warm clothes, but the fresh unpolluted air on a warm spring or summers day can make New Pitsligo a little piece of heaven.

Description by Michael Walton