Attractions.
Three museums, a narrow gauge railway, a huge country park area (the river and the railway run through it: there’s a fantastic caravan and camping site and holiday apartments to rent in the big house there), walks galore, a historic battlefield, a golf course with the clubhouse right in the village and lots of coffee houses and restaurants.
An ideal place for a day’s outing or a good base for exploring “Royal” Donside where the scenery is magnificent, the castles are medieval and the Royal connection is with Robert the Bruce.
Brief descriptions of the main attractions below.
Clicking on the images will open a link to their websites – if they have one!
Alford Heritage Centre
An extraordinary, emotive and slightly eccentric collection of objects, images and books housed in the old auction mart – itself of great interest since it is the only one left standing : and it’s big – the tractors take less than 10% of the space, which just about leaves room for the thousands of other exhibits : “a’thing fae claes washers tae neep hashers” It’s definitely the place to remember in Alford.
Grampian Transport Museum
A treasure house of transport history. Displays, working exhibits and DVD presentations illustrate the history of travel and transport in North East Scotland.
Alford Valley Railway
Scotland’s first 2ft narrow gauge railway running a half hourly service from Alford to Haughton Country Park – a seasonal service from Easter to September with “Santa Specials” in December. Alford Station houses the Tourist Information Centre and a small museum.
Country Parks
The picture is of Haughton House in Haughton Park. This big “hoose” has had various interesting “changes of use” since its role as ancestral seat ended and is now converted to Holiday apartments and the office for the riverside caravan site in the grounds. Click on the picture for details of the site. Next door is the Murray Park (gifted by Charles Murray).. 60 acres,lots of walks and a historic battlefield (the Battle of Alford, fought in 1645.)
Golf club
A parkland course surrounded by the Donside hills with Bennachie dominating. A challenge to golfers of all ages and ability without being physically demanding – and the clubhouse is right in the village as well. Length – 5483 Yards. Par – 69.
And more!
The dry ski slope, the skate park, the swimming pool, the hotels, coffee houses and restaurants…
Alford’s got the lot!
