Grantown-on-Spey
| Grantown-on-Spey | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Baile Ùr nan Granndach | |
| Grantown | |
 A winter scene in Grantown-on-Spey |
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  Grantown-on-Spey |
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| Area | Analyser UV02 |
|---|---|
| Population | 2,239 |
| Language | English |
| OS grid reference | NJ031276 |
| Council area | Highland |
| Lieutenancy area | Moray |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Grantown-On-Spey |
| Postcode district | PH26 |
| Dialling code | 01479 |
| Police | Scottish |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey |
| Scottish Parliament | Inverness and Nairn |
| Website | Official website |
Coordinates: 57°19′45″N 3°36′32″W / 57.329293°N 3.608772°W
Grantown-on-Spey (Scottish Gaelic: Baile Ùr nan Granndach) is a town in the Highland Council Area, historically within the county of Moray. It was founded in 1765 as a planned settlement on a low plateau at Freuchie beside the river Spey at the northern edge of the Cairngorm mountains, about 20 miles south east of Inverness (35 miles by road).
Originally called simply "Grantown" after Sir James Grant, "on Spey" was added by the burgh council in 1898.
The population in 2001 was 2,166.
The town is twinned with Notre-Dame-de-Monts in the Vendée, Pays-de-la-Loire, France, and Grant Town, West Virginia in the United States.
Since 2011, Grantown-on-Spey has been home to Shinty club Strathspey Camanachd.
Visitor Information
There is a small museum located in Burnfield Avenue near one of the town's three free car-parks.
There are a number of churches in the town (none of which have a burial ground):
- Inverallan Parish Church (Church of Scotland): on Mossie Road
- Baptist, at the junction of High Street and Chapel Road
A church in the High Street (opposite Dunstaffnage Brae) is shared by two congregations :-
- Scottish Episcopalian (St Columba)
- Roman Catholic (St Anne), who advertise the location as Woodlands Crescent (postcode PH26 3EN)
There are two local cemeteries, both of which are maintained by the Highland Council:-
- Inverallan, the original burial ground which is now only available for use by holders of existing vacant lairs. Most older inscriptions have been transcribed and published in book form; memorials with no events after 1855 are mostly unrecorded in published form. It is between the River Spey and Inverallan House at O.S. grid reference NJ 026 260 and is beside the car park at the end of a road leading from the B9102 road. Apart from the baptism font beside the entrance gate the original Inverallan parish church no longer remains. Official records for this burial ground were not started until the 1900s when the gravedigger retired and it was realised that he was then the only source of information regarding burials not indicated on the memorials; the current burial register was founded upon the information supplied by him thus only burials recorded since that time have details supplied contemporaneously by relatives or undertakers.
- Grantown (also known as the "New Cemetery") which has been in use since the early 20th century. It is located between the B9102 and the A95 roads south of Grantown at O.S. grid reference NJ 027 267. The main entrance and car parking is on the B9102 with an alternative access to the lower (i.e. downhill!) end from the A95 "Grantown bypass".
Transport
Train services: The town used to be served by a railway which was however closed in the 1960s. The Strathspey Railway is a heritage railway which proposes to extend its line to Grantown-on-Spey. The nearest main line stations are Aviemore, Carrbridge and Elgin.
Bus Services: There are several local bus services mainly concentrating on the route to Aviemore but also serving surrounding places. It should be noted that some services operate only on schooldays. The are a few buses that go to the Cairngorm Mountain Railway (a lot more in the winter to get skiers up to the mountain.
Various long distance bus services are available in Aviemore, Elgin and Keith. Current information for bus services of most of the operators is consolidated within the websites of the Moray Council and the Stagecoach group.
Taxi Services. There are several local operators.
Notable people
- Bobby Cruickshank, Golfer
- John Kerr, Baron Kerr of Kinlochard, diplomat
- Craig MacLean, Track Cyclist
- Nikolai Orlov, Russian-born pianist
- James Ogilvie-Grant, 11th Earl of Seafield, Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Elgin
- W. N. T. Beckett, Captain, Royal Navy
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grantown-on-Spey. |
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Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Grantown. |
- Live weather data in Grantown On Spey
- The Highland Council / Comhairle na Gaidhealtachd – General "Leisure" and other information
- Strathspey and Badenoch Herald – local weekly newspaper with on-line content
- Grantown Grammar School, which serves Grantown and a wide surrounding area
- Public train service fare and timetable information for all of Great Britain
- Scotrail – public train services for Scotland
- St Columba's (Scottish Episcopalian) church
- St Anne's (RC) church