Stonehaven

The coastal town of Stonehaven in Kincardineshire is situated within easy reach of Aberdeen city centre, which is just over 15 miles north and can be travelled to either via train or a choice of road links. The newly opened Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) has made the north and west areas of the city far more accessible, with journey times to Dyce being halved, to approximately 36 minutes. The population of Stonehaven currently numbers around 11,400 residents

The town’s convenient road and rail links have allowed its economy to benefit from the wider area’s oil wealth over the past thirty years, as well as providing a perfect base for commuters to Aberdeen with a good work/life balance.

Stonehaven features a wealth of property styles to choose from. The harbour area of the town is the oldest part and features a range of traditional single and two storey homes all built in the local grey granite stonework that is popular in Aberdeenshire. Further inland are more modern detached and semi-detached family homes.

History of Stonehaven

Stonehaven dates back to the Bronze Age, although the development of the ‘new town’ settlement began in the 18^th century. Since then, Stonehaven has continued to grow in size, developing from a fishing village into a thriving port town with strong links to tourism, manufacturing and agriculture. Stonehaven is also highly regarded for its striking setting - behind Stonehaven Bay, in the gateway to Royal Deeside - and its wealth of scenery, as well as historical landmarks such as the stunning Dunnottar Castle.

Sea fishing in the waters surrounding Stonehaven involves only small craft nowadays, while the harbour is mainly recreational in use. The Stonehaven harbour area is full of interest and is surrounded by mainly historical buildings. The Tolbooth – which now houses a museum – was once a grain store in the 1600s, while the Ship Inn was built overlooking the harbour in 1771.

Things to do in Stonehaven

The area offers an excellent choice of sports and leisure activities, and is home to some superb walking routes, while Stonehaven golf club makes the most of the stunning coastal setting - the course is played along cliff tops with great views of the town and the North Sea. Stonehaven is also home to an outdoor Olympic size swimming pool designed in the art deco style. The pool, which is filled with completely filtered sea water, is famous for its status as the UK’s most northerly lido.

There’s a good range of local shops in the town, as well as plenty of options for eating and drinking, while Stonehaven Town Hall is a popular live venue hosting big-name music concerts as well as theatre and comedy. The area is also home to a number of popular attractions and events such as the Stonehaven Fireball Ceremony (held annually on December 31^st) and Midsummer Beer Happening, a celebration of craft brewing which grew from the popularity of the Stonehaven Beer Festival.

Schools in Stonehaven

There are a range of primary schools that serve Stonehaven and the surrounding rural areas, including Arduthie School and Dunnottar School. Carronhill School also sits on the edge of the town and caters to pupils with special needs. Several of the local schools also have their own nursery units. These schools all feed into Mackie Academy, which is situated within the town, making it convenient for residents. A free bus service is also provided to pupils who live three or more miles away from the school, which is ideal for those residing in the more rural areas around Stonehaven. Mackie Academy is a fairly large school with around 1,117 pupils enrolled at present.

ASPC offer a great selection of houses for sale and flats to rent in Stonehaven, so let us help you find your new home. Browse our comprehensive choice of property for sale, ranging from substantial family homes to compact apartments, or from historic properties to new build homes, with our property finder. If you are looking for retirement properties in particular, then view all the available retirement properties in Stonehaven here. 

For more information on Stonehaven, including visitor attractions, events, local history, and business information, check out the Stonehaven Guide website.