FEATURE JULY 2019
One 'Ell of a place FORMARTINE, which stretches north from the River Don to the River Ythan is the second largest of Aberdeenshire Council’s administrative areas. Ellon is its largest town with a population of around 10,200 followed by Turriff, 5,700 and Oldmeldrum 3,200. The highest proportion of Formartine’s employment is in the manufacturing sector which accounts for around 17% of the workforce. Accommodation and food services is an important sector and among the employers is Meldrum House, the Aberdeenshire country hotel and golf club which recently won a Scottish Thistle award for the ‘Most Hospitable Hotel’ in Scotland. The 13th century baronial mansion set in 240 beautiful acres is just 25 minutes from Aberdeen International Airport but it is 21st century luxury and the vast range of modern activities nearby which draw visitors from around the world. General manager Jordan Charles, himself a keen golfer, says that one of the biggest attractions is the 55 golf courses in Aberdeenshire, at least one for every week of the year.
“This is a honeypot location for golf and we attract many Americans to play our award-winning links golf courses,” he said. “Within a radius of 30 minutes we have three of the best links courses in the world – Trump International, Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay. These are a huge draw to our friends from across the Atlantic and there are so many other parkland courses including our own Meldrum House golf course which is one of the most beautiful in the country. A party of Americans have just left Meldrum House after playing the Trump Course, Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay and they managed to squeeze in nine holes on our course. They said their only regret about the trip was that they didn’t have time to play the full 18-holes.
are many other things which attract people to this part of Aberdeenshire. Just down the road from us there is karting, archery and 4 x 4 driving and less than an hour away at Aberdeenshire Highland Beef visitors can experience farm life from the field to the fork.
“But we have so much more than golf here. It is an ideal location. Many of our visitors are whisky enthusiasts and we have Glen Garioch right on our doorstep and the new £140m Macallan Distillery is less than an hour away.
Not far away is another successful business. It is now more than a quarter of a century since Grampian Steel Services Ltd relocated from Inverurie to Oldmeldrum when her dad took over the family business and Soenaid Coutts, general manager, says there couldn’t be a better location.
“We are close to the airport, close to Aberdeen and the £1bn investment in the bypass has been a huge boost to this region. It pulls Meldrum House closer to everyone. “As well as golf and whisky, and of course the wealth of castles, there
“There is also walking in the outstanding scenery. When I first arrived here and looked through the ballroom window I thought it was a Smart TV because the view was so breath taking. “Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city so it would be nice to see flights from more destinations to the airport so more people could enjoy this beautiful part of the world.”
“We deliver throughout the North-east of Scotland into the Highlands to the northern tip of Scotland and down into Tayside,” she said. “We also deliver to the ferry terminals in Aberdeen 7.