Ellon, 'The Gateway to Buchan' in Aberdeenshire, is just 14 miles north of Aberdeen and combines all the advantages of having a major thriving city on its doorstep with an attractive landscape rich in wildlife and natural environment.

There is an interesting mix of both old and new retail shopping areas.




Aberdeen airport is only 15-20 minutes away and there are good road links to Aberdeen.

The main A90 trunk road to the city by-passes the centre of Ellon and the new Ellon park-and-ride makes it easier to travel into and out of Aberdeen. In fact someone living in an area such as the Bridge of Don - the largest inner-city private housing estate in Europe - would find it faster to travel to Ellon than to cross the centre of Aberdeen!





Housing

There is a wide range of housing available in Ellon, whether it is a semi you are after or a tranquil country residence.

Ellon's housing is characterised by a core of older properties in the centre (near to the bridge over the river Ythan) and a number of more recent housing areas located on different sides of the town.

The growth of housing in Ellon accelerated considerably during the mid 1970's with the arrival of the oil industry in Aberdeen and the surrounding area.

One of the key characteristics of Ellon's housing stock is the range of prices of properties available. A two bedroom flat currently costs £65,000 - £95,000. An established 3 or 4 bedroom family house (many of which are bungalows) lie in the range £150,000 - £250,000. Larger properties for the big family or up and coming executives are available at prices upwards of £250,000+.

The Buchan countryside around Ellon contains many established properties, both large and small, some of which are real 'gems'.

If you would like further information on housing options please visit www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/housing and www.aspc.co.uk


Education

Ellon boasts three primary schools and the renowned Ellon Academy, which is the largest secondary school outside of Glasgow, has levels of academic achievements to be proud of. The world famous percussionist, Evelyn Glennie, is a former pupil!

Some of the best private schools in Scotland are available nearby in Aberdeen - Robert Gordon's and Albyn School for Girls to name just two. The city also has a Grammar School, once attended by Lord Byron, and two internationally renowned universities.

Without doubt, with the excellent education and medical facilities and one of the lowest crime rates in the country, Ellon is a great place to bring up a family.

A list of local educational facilities can be found HERE or for further information on education please visit www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/schools/


Sport, Recreation and Leisure

Every sport and taste is catered for within the area. Some of the best golf courses in the world can be found in the North East of Scotland.

Donald Trump, the leading American entrepreneur, plans to create a world class Golf Course along the coast from Ellon which will provide jobs for the area as well as top-class facilities.

Ellon has its very own sports centre, swimming pool and all-weather playing pitches and boasts very successful rugby and cricket teams.

For outdoor pursuits, the opportunities are endless, a vast mountain of wilderness catering for hill-walking, skiing, fishing and shooting are but a pleasant drive away.

For the watersport enthusiast there are yachting clubs, windsurfing, surfing and diving all along the picturesque east coast beaches which also allow miles of coastal walking, often in glorious solitude.

For those wishing to follow more culinary pursuits, excellent restaurants are available locally and satisfy the most discerning taste, whether business or social.


Wildlife in the Ellon Area

The area is also famous for its whisky and castle trails, and boasts more stone circles than the whole of the rest of the UK.

The nearby Ythan river estuary is a long established bird reserve and the Buchan coastline has attracted the likes of Dr Johnson and Bram Stoker.

The town of Ellon hosts a large variety of animals and birds. Many of these are very common, such as the robins, blackbirds and chaffinches that visit the gardens, but there are also some more unusual creatures including buzzards and foxes.

The river Ythan hosts an abundance of creatures from the ever popular mallard duck to the lesser known coots and moorhens. Ellon also provides a home for two endangered species - the Red Squirrel, which was abundant all over Britain until the introduction of the grey squirrel by the Victorians, and the Song Thrush, a small bird around the size of a blackbird which feeds on snails by cracking their shells open on rocks.

You may find THIS article on 'Natural Ellon' interesting.