Visit Portlethen Places

Welcome to Visit Portlethen Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Portlethen

  

Portlethen Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Portlethen

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Portlethen history

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Portlethen was originally a small fishing village. The harbour is located in what is now Old Portlethen, the original village on the coast about a half a mile east from Portlethen Parish Church. Portlethen lies about two kilometres east of the ancient Causey Mounth road, the latter built on high ground to make it passable and the only available medieval route from coastal points south to Aberdeen. This ancient passage specifically connected the Bridge of Dee with Muchalls Castle and Stonehaven to the south. The route was that taken by the William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal and James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose when they led a Covenanter army of 9000 men in the first battle of the Civil War in 1639. Battle of Portlethen. In November 1780 during the wars with France the British army used fencible regiments for home defence. The Sutherland Fencibles armed with muskets engaged in action with the crew of armed with muskets and Swivel guns of a French privateer. The engagement was reported in the newspapers of the period. On Monday last Captain Kyd of the Osnaburgh Revenue cutter was chased into this harbour by a large privateer, frigate-built, and very narrowly escaped. On Saturday last in the forenoon, a large privateer of the same appearance stood in from sea, and took a vessel close in with the rocks of the cove, drove one into the ‘Fishers Harbour’ of the cove, and another (a brig from Newcastle bound for Inverness, Falconer, Master) in to that of Portlethen. Immediately upon this information, the magistrates applied to Colonel Sutherland of the Sutherland Fencibles for a party of his men, in order to prevent these two vessels from being carried off, plundered, or destroyed, which he most readily granted, and instantly dispatched under the command of Capt. Macleane. The party marched with surprising expedition ; but before they could reach the cove, which is three miles distant, unluckily the vessel drove ashore there, and which belonged to this town, was carried to sea by the privateer’s boats. The party then proceeded to Portlethen, about three miles farther south, where they arrived just in time : for in a quarter of an hour thereafter, a large and a small boat, full of men, armed with swivels and muskets, came from the privateer (which lay not more than 350 yards from the rocks) in order to carrv off the brig. Capt. Macleane having properley disposed his men each side of the inlet, suffered the boats to get alongside the brig without molestation, and they, observing the party among the rocks fired upon them. The Fencibles immediately returned the fire, and made very good use of their arms. Several of the privateer’s men appearing to be killed and wounded, and some having by this time got on board the brig ; cries for quarter were heard three or four times , which was as often granted by the captain, on condition of thsir desisting and coming ashore ; but that not being complied with, and observing a flash of fire on board the brig, (supposed to be their endeavouring to set her on fire) he called to them, that if that was repeated, and if they did not immediately come on shore, he must a ain give Orders to fire, which he did, upon observing the flash repeated, and no answer being returned. Night having now come on, the boats escaped by the darkness ; and we have good reason to believe, that Capt. Macleane would have taken them all prisoners. He prevailed on the brig’s crew for a boat to be got ready for that purpose. Mr Norval, master of the sloop that was taken in the forenoon, being ransomed, is since arrived here. He gives accounts, that he was onboard the privateer when the boats returned ; that four of their men were killed, and five wounded ; that he saw the dead bodies, and that two or three of those killed were officers, that the large boat was so much hurt, that it was with difficulty she could reach the privateer. The boats, upon deserting the brig, went off so precipitate, that they left on board several muskets and other articles ; and also most of their Oars. The privateer is the ‘mRohan Soubife of Dunkirk, Pierre Vaistabel Commander, of 20 9 pounders, and 180 Men, among whom are many English, Scotch, and Irish. She has 7 or 8 ransomers, and 41 prisoners on board, but refused to ransom the vessel taken out of the cove harbour, because the master had run her on shore. None of the Fencibles are hurt. “Aberdeen”. Aberdeen Press and Journal. 20 November 1780. p. 4. On 2 September 1799 George Auldjo of Portlethen offered for safe at the New Inn, Aberdeen ‘LOT 1. Is to consist of the Lands and Barony of PORTLETHEN, Mill, Mill-lands, Multures and sequels, Sea-port, Haven and Harbour of Portlethen, with the tolls, duties, customs, and anchorages thereof, and White-fishing in the sea adjacent to said lands.’ Portlethen has expanded very rapidly. In the 1980s a new retail park was constructed. Portlethen is still continuing to expand into a sizable town.

Nature Reserve

Portlethen Moss Nature Reserve was once home to the great crested newt. The remainder of the reserve is approximately one quarter of the size it was twenty years ago. Conservation groups have been created specifically to maintain the area.

Portlethen geography / climate

Portlethen is located in the historic county of Kincardineshire. A small island May Craig is situated off shore from the North Sea coast.

You can visit Portlethen places with Walkfo Portlethen to hear history at Portlethen’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Portlethen has 15 places to visit in our interactive Portlethen map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Portlethen, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Portlethen places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Portlethen & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 15 audio facts unique to Portlethen places in an interactive Portlethen map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Portlethen Places Map
15 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Portlethen historic spots	Portlethen tourist destinations	Portlethen plaques	Portlethen geographic features
Walkfo Portlethen tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Portlethen

  

Best Portlethen places to visit

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Portlethen has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Portlethen’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Portlethen’s information audio spots:

Portlethen Village Portlethen Village is a settlement along the North Sea coast in Aberdeenshire, Scotland . The skerry of Craigmaroinn is situated just off the coastline near the village .

Downies Downies is a cliff-top village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland situated on Cammachmore Bay. Historically it was a fishing village, until much of the local North Sea fishery collapsed from overfishing. presently it is chiefly a residential dormitory adjunct to the city of Aberdeen.

Visit Portlethen plaques