Archiestown in Moray

Welcome to Archiestown
tranquillity in Moray.....!

Archiestown Village Square
Archiestown is a small village in Moray with a population of around 180 residents (officially 147 in the census of 2001).   It is the largest village in the parish of Knockando and is situated to the south of Elchies forest and to the north of the River Spey on the slopes of the Ballintomb moor.      Archiestown lies in the heart of Speyside, around four miles off the A941 between Elgin and Craigellachie on the B9102 which is the scenic route to Grantown.  The first thing that strikes a visitor to Archiestown is the peace and tranquillity of the village.   On a late spring day, the sound of silence is punctuated only by birdsong and the rustle of the trees.   Beautiful countryside can be seen from every part of the village, with the mountain of Ben Rinnes (One of the Scottish Corbetts) dominating the view to the south.
Archiestown dates from 1760 and is built in a grid system along one main road lying in an east/west direction with lanes and streets running off this road to the north and south.   Archiestown is one of the highest villages in Moray at a height of some 776 feet above sea level. In the centre of the village of Archiestown is its square, with the Archiestown hotel in its south eastern corner and with its prominent 18 foot high war memorial, which was unveiled by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon in 1920, in the centre.   The square seems very unusual for a small agricultural and distilling village, with what can only be described as tree lined avenues running from the memorial to the north and south.   The effect is very attractive.   This central area of the village is designated as a conservation area.	Archiestown Hotel
Cardhu Distillery	Although the community of Archiestown is small in number, it is big in heart as is evident in the tidy nature of the village.   Archiestown has frequently won the Moray village in bloom competition.   Archiestown no longer has its own school and is serviced by the primary school in the tiny village of Knockando which lies around 3 miles to the west.   Archiestown is situated on the Malt Whisky Trail and is flanked by the famous Macallan distillery to the east and the Cardhu distillery to the west.   The malt whisky from the Cardhu distillery is used as the base for the internationally famous Johnny Walker blended whisky.
Archiestown Village Shop	Archiestown Main Street
Archiestown has its own tiny post office come village shop which brings mail to and from the area as well as supplying general merchandise and newspapers.   Archiestown also has a village hall, one or two guest houses and a hotel and bar which is a focal point for the community as well as attracting guests and tourists to the area for fine cuisine.   There is also a caravan and camping club site just a mile or so to the east of Archiestown which welcomes non members, in a striking rural setting.
Archiestown Camping & Caravan Club Site	The road from Archiestown to Grantown
Archiestown History Archiestown was founded in 1760 by Sir Archibald Grant of Monymusk, under the original name of Ballintomb.   Sir Archibald Grant was known and respected as an agricultural reformer, who brought the Agricultural revolution to his own estate in Monymusk and with it, immense change.   These changes were good for the economy of the area but resulted in the requirement for re-location of redundant farmworkers to new planned villages from where they were encouraged to become involved in agricultural and trade based employment. Archiestown in common with many other villages in the mid 18th Century was a planned village and was built around a linen factory as well as supporting other trades and agriculture. In 1783 Archiestown was severely damaged by fire and did not really recover until the early 1800s.   This was partly due to the devastation caused by the fire, but also due to the remoteness of the location with the transport links of the time which resulted in a temporary depopulation of the village.

Archiestown Activities

Archiestown is an ideal location as a base for walking.   There are many short woodland and country walks around and about the village as well as longer walks through the Spey Valley, and the Speyside Way long distance walking trail is only a short distance away, with the visitor and information centre for the Speyside Way in Aberlour.

Archiestown is also in an ideal situation for angling and field sports.

Archiestown is on the Malt whisky trail and distilleries are dotted around the area to the east and west.

Although Archiestown is in a rural setting, it is very close to other larger towns.   Aberlour and Rothes are a very short drive from Archiestown and Elgin which is the commercial and administrative capital of Moray is only twenty minutes away by car.