Peterhead

Peterhead is the most easterly town on the Scottish mainland – and also the largest in the Aberdeenshire local authority area, with a population of around 18,000. Situated 17 miles south of Fraserburgh and 32 miles north of the city of Aberdeen (less than an hour’s drive) the town is conveniently placed with excellent road links, including the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), linking Peterhead to the city centre in around 45 minutes.

Property in Peterhead is built around its fishing port and this is where the oldest properties in the town can be found. Traditional granite cottages and terraced properties spread outwards from the port to more modern properties built further out from the town centre. With a wide range of flats, detached homes and semi-detached properties in Peterhead there is plenty to choose from for those looking to relocate to the area.

History of Peterhead

Originally a fishing village, Peterhead developed over time to become one of the largest fishing ports in the north of Scotland, and to this day remains one of Europe’s major fishing ports, and the biggest white fish port in the UK. Peterhead is often referred to as “The Blue Toon” with people who were born in the area being known as Blue Tooners after the blue worsted stockings (bloomogganers) that Peterhead’s fishermen originally wore.

With the growth of the petrochemical industry in the north east, Peterhead has become a centre for businesses that serve the oil and gas sector, and there is now a heliport to the west of the town. Due to this growth, the town’s economy has benefited, with some areas in Peterhead seeing an increase in the development of new properties.

Things to do in Peterhead

Peterhead’s coastal location offers some great opportunities for outdoor pursuits such as windsurfing and sailing at Peterhead Lido beach, as well as some great links golf at Peterhead Golf Club, which lays claim to being the 18th oldest golf club in the world. The area around the town is also home to some great walking and hiking routes in the area. A new network of walking routes opened in 2014 in nearby Boddam, making the area ideal for exploring on foot.

There is a great choice of local shops, pubs and restaurants in the town, with a good mix of independent businesses and larger retail chains. A good number of hotels and guest houses also mean Peterhead is well-placed to accommodate visitors throughout the year. The town is also home to the Arbuthnot Museum, which is one of the oldest in all of Aberdeenshire and focusses on Peterhead’s fascinating maritime history.

Schools in Peterhead

There are several primary schools serving Peterhead and the surrounding area that cater to all abilities, including Peterhead Central School, Clerkhill School and Anna Ritchie School for special needs. Most of these schools also comprise their own nursery units. The local primary schools then feed into Peterhead Academy, which is situated relatively centrally and is one of the largest schools in Aberdeenshire, with around 1,300 pupils enrolled. Free bus travel is also offered by the school for pupils travelling three or miles to the school.

If you’re looking for Peterhead accommodation to rent, or a property for sale, let ASPC help. Our site contains a comprehensive set of listings of apartments and houses in in Peterhead, from one bedroom flats to large family homes. If you are searching for somewhere to retire, we list a range of retirement property in Peterhead.

Check out the Visit Scotland site for more Peterhead information including activities, events, places to eat and transport in Peterhead: visitscotland.com