Welcome to Banff

The Royal Burgh of Banff, the county town of the traditional county of Banffshire, is located on the north-east coast of Scotland at the mouth of the River Deveron where it enters the Moray Firth, approximately 570 miles north of London and 47 miles north-west of Aberdeen.

The town has a population of around 3,900. Administratively it is within the unitary council region of Aberdeenshire which covers an area of approximately 6,313 sq kms.

Surrounded by spectacular coastal scenery it is an attractive town, designated an Outstanding Conservation Area, and a popular seaside resort with good sandy beaches. It has an ancient heritage but really began to prosper with the building of its harbour during the 18th-century and there is some fine Georgian architecture from this period, most notably the impressive baroque mansion Duff House. There is also a very interesting medieval graveyard. Banff is within easy reach of the magnificent Coastal Trail with its footpath, wildlife-watching opportunities and other attractions include regular farmers' markets.

The town has great antiquity and according to a charter of 1163 was the residence of Malcolm IV. Banff received a charter from Robert the Bruce in 1324 and was awarded the status of Royal Burgh by Robert II in 1372. During the medieval period it was one of the important Hanseatic trading towns.

Economically the town's largest employment sectors are public administration and services, then distribution, hotels and restaurants, and thirdly manufacturing. Banff's largest employers are Aberdeenshire Council, Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust, Grampian Country Chickens Ltd (Poultry Processing), Tesco Stores Ltd and Somerfield Stores Ltd (Supermarket Retailing), A D Walker Ltd (Builders), B R Scott Ltd (Pharmacy), Banff Springs Hotel Ltd, and Royal Mail.

The name Banff is derived from the Scottish Gaelic 'Banbh' or 'Banbha', which was one of the old poetic names for Ireland.