Ellon
Ellon is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is almost 16 miles (26 kilometres) north of Aberdeen, lying on the River Ythan, which has some of the few undeveloped river estuaries on the eastern coast of Scotland. It is in the ancient region of Formartine. Its name is believed to originate from the Gaelic word Eilean, an island, on account of the presence of an island in the River Ythan, which supplied a handy fording point. According to population estimates from 2006, the town has a permanent resident population of around 9860 people. Ellon has gained from the North Sea oil demand, and is one of the primary dormitory towns for Aberdeen. Regular and frequent bus services link Ellon with Aberdeen, Inverurie, Peterhead, Fraserburgh and surrounding towns and villages, serving both the town centre and the large Park and Ride facility at the eastern edge of the town. Ellon becomes part of the proposed Energetica corridor of development. The population is broadening as young families seek to get out of Aberdeen and relocate to close-by towns like Ellon, Inverurie and Banchory. Throughout 2006, Ellon ranked as the town with the fourth most rapidly increasing average house prices in Scotland. Places of interest within the town include the ruins of Ellon Castle, surrounded by walls known as the Deer Dyke, and the Auld Brig, a category A listed bridge over the Ythan, constructed in 1793 and still in use as a pedestrian bridge. The Riverside Park provides pathways alongside the Ythan, from which herons, salmon, trout and otters may be observed. The Meadows sports centre has several sporting facilities and clubs, including football and rugby pitches, an astroturf pitch for hockey, a gym, and a multi-use sports hall. For all your home improvements, make sure to find trustworthy professionals in Ellon to make certain of quality.