Portlethen

Portlethen is situated to the west of the Dundee–Aberdeen line railway tracks and on both sides of the A92 road, a short distance inland from the North Sea coast. It is in the historic county of Kincardineshire.

Portlethen is located half a mile inland from the small fishing village now known as Old Portlethen.{{cite web |url=http://www.portlethen-pri.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/about.html |title=About |access-date=2011-01-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720100728/http://www.portlethen-pri.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/about.html |archive-date=2011-07-20 }}

File:Portlethenharbour richard slessor.jpg at Portlethen, historically used as Portlethen Harbour.]]

Portlethen lies about two kilometres east of the ancient Causey Mounth road which was the only available medieval route from coastal points south to Aberdeen. This ancient passage connected the Bridge of Dee with Muchalls Castle and Stonehaven to the south.{{Cite web |url=http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=17932 |title=C.Michael Hogan, Causey Mounth, Megalithic Portal, ed. by Andy Burnham, 2007 |access-date=4 December 2007 |archive-date=29 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629155116/http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=17932 |url-status=live }}

Battle of Portlethen.

In November 1780 during the wars with France the British army used fencible regiments for home defence. The Sutherland Fencibles armed with muskets engaged in action with the crew of armed with muskets and Swivel guns of a French privateer. The engagement was reported in the newspapers of the period.

On 2 September 1799 George Auldjo of Portlethen offered for safe at the New Inn, Aberdeen

'LOT 1. Is to consist of the Lands and Barony of PORTLETHEN, Mill, Mill-lands, Multures and sequels, Sea-port, Haven and Harbour of Portlethen, with the tolls, duties, customs, and anchorages thereof, and White-fishing in the sea adjacent to said lands.' {{cite news|title= For Sale|newspaper= Aberdeen Press and Journal |date=12 August 1799|page= 1}}

{{Main|Portlethen Moss}}

Much of modern-day Portlethen has been built over the Portlethen Moss Nature Reserve, formerly home to the great crested newt. The remainder of Portlethen Moss is approximately one quarter of the size it was twenty years ago.{{cite web|url=http://www.portlethen-moss.org.uk/comparison.jpg|title=Rough Comparison image|publisher=Portlethen Moss|access-date=4 July 2011|archive-date=29 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929115803/http://www.portlethen-moss.org.uk/comparison.jpg|url-status=live}} Portlethen Moss Conservation Group was created to preserve the area.{{cite web|url=http://www.portlethen-moss.org.uk|title=Portlethen Moss; (Proposed) Local Nature Reserve|publisher=Portlethen Moss|access-date=4 July 2011|archive-date=20 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720111134/http://www.portlethen-moss.org.uk/|url-status=live}}

File:Portlethen Retail Park - geograph.org.uk - 115735.jpg

Portlethen has four main shopping areas: Portlethen Retail Park,{{Cite web|title=Portlethen Retail Park, Aberdeen|url=https://completelyretail.co.uk/scheme/2011|access-date=2021-06-27|website=Completely Retail|language=en|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627200747/https://completelyretail.co.uk/scheme/2011|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Tait|first=Kirstin|date=2021-10-04|title=Olympic hero to open new Aldi store in Portlethen this month|url=https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/olympic-hero-to-open-new-aldi-store-in-portlethen-this-month/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-05|website=Evening Express|archive-date=5 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005104051/https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/olympic-hero-to-open-new-aldi-store-in-portlethen-this-month/}} The Green, Muirend Court and Rowanbank Court.

Portlethen has a number of Christian congregations. These include Portlethen Parish Church - part of the Church of Scotland. It has now united with Newtonhill Parish Church to become Kincardine Coastal Parish Church.{{Cite web |title=Portlethen Parish Church |url=http://portlethenparishchurch.weebly.com/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=Portlethen Parish Church |language=en}} There is also Portlethen Christian Fellowship - an independent Christian Church.{{Cite web |title=Portlethen Christian Fellowship |url=https://portlethencf.com/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |language=en-GB}} And, it also has a congregation of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.{{Cite web |title=Welcome to House of Salvation |url=https://www.houseofsalvation.org.uk/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=RCCG House of Salvation, Portlethen |language=en-GB}}File:Dolphins south east of Old Portlethen - geograph.org.uk - 152438.jpgs south east of Old Portlethen. Whale and dolphin watching is a popular attraction in summer.]]

Portlethen has two all-weather concrete tennis courts, a bowling green with public and private sessions, a swimming pool and a private members' golf club. It is also home to the [https://www.lethenarchers.com Lethen Archers] club.

The pool is 25 metres long and was opened on 29 June 1991 by Olympic swimmer Ian Black.{{Cite news |date=1991-07-12 |title=Portlethen plunging success |pages=38 |work=The Press and Journal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19910712/596/0038 |access-date=2022-05-11}}{{Cite news |last=Pacitti |first=Katherine |date=1991-07-01 |title=Olympic swimmer christens Portlethen's new pool |pages=6 |work=The Press and Journal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19910701/039/0006 |access-date=2022-05-11}} Portlethen swimming pool is the regular meeting place of the Reef Rats underwater hockey club.{{Cite web |last=House |first=Ellie |date=2020-05-24 |title=In at the deep end: It's a game of hockey - but not as you know it |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/2210873/in-at-the-deep-end/ |access-date=2022-01-23 |website=Press and Journal |language=en-GB}}

Portlethen Golf Club was founded in 1981, and opened in 1989. The club's first professional player was Muriel Thomson: the first female golf professional in Scotland. In December 2014 she was succeeded by Stuart Wilson.

The course is a 6,663 yards par 72 with two par 3s and two par 5s in each half. The club has a clubhouse and practice facilities, including a covered driving range, practice bunkers, short-game area and putting green.

A Youth drop-in centre was opened in April 2007, in the old library building.{{cite web |url=http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/news/release.asp?newsID=377 |title=Aberdeenshire Council - News Release: Youth drop-in centre to open in Portlethen |access-date=2011-01-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214044432/http://aberdeenshire.gov.uk/news/release.asp?newsID=377 |archive-date=2010-12-14 }} There also various youth groups running regularly at Portlethen Parish Church{{cite web|url=http://portlethenparishchurch.com/blog/youth-ministry/|title=Youth Ministry|work=Portlethen Parish Church|access-date=23 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715105225/http://portlethenparishchurch.com/blog/youth-ministry/|archive-date=15 July 2011|url-status=dead}} and Jubilee Hall.{{cite web|url=http://www.old-portlethen.co.uk/Jubilee%20Hall.htm|title=New Page 2|publisher=Old Portlethen}}

There are two main parks in Portlethen: Bourtree Park and Nicol Park. Nicol Park has a toddlers park, a skate park and two basketball courts. Bourtree Park has a football pitch, a few swings and climbing frames.

There is a community library and community centre located within Portlethen Academy.{{cite web |url=http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/libraries/local_libraries/portlethen.asp |title=Aberdeenshire Council - Portlethen Library |access-date=2011-01-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212000548/http://aberdeenshire.gov.uk/libraries/local_libraries/portlethen.asp |archive-date=2010-12-12 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/cld/centres/portlethen.asp |title=Aberdeenshire Council - Community Learning and Development - Community Centres |access-date=2011-01-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228045317/http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/cld/centres/portlethen.asp |archive-date=2010-12-28 }} The Social Work offices of Aberdeenshire Council for the local area are located within Portlethen.{{Cite web |url=http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/care/help/living/local_sw_offices.asp#portlethen |title=Aberdeenshire Council - Living Independently - Local Social Work Offices |access-date=23 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119155042/http://aberdeenshire.gov.uk/care/help/living/local_sw_offices.asp#portlethen |archive-date=19 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}

There has been a school in Portlethen since the nineteenth century.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/search_item/index.php?service=RCAHMS&id=184883&refer=L3NlYXJjaC9pbmRleC5waHA/YWN0aW9uPWRvX3NlYXJjaCZpZD02OTA5JnBfbmFtZT1QT1JUTEVUSEVOJnBfdHlwZT1QT1BVTEFURURfUExBQ0UmcF9wYXJpc2gxPUJhbmNob3J5LWRldmVuaWNr|title=Portlethen, Schoolhouse | ScotlandsPlaces|access-date=23 January 2022|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051729/http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/search_item/index.php?service=RCAHMS&id=184883&refer=L3NlYXJjaC9pbmRleC5waHA%2FYWN0aW9uPWRvX3NlYXJjaCZpZD02OTA5JnBfbmFtZT1QT1JUTEVUSEVOJnBfdHlwZT1QT1BVTEFURURfUExBQ0UmcF9wYXJpc2gxPUJhbmNob3J5LWRldmVuaWNr|url-status=live}} The original school building (used until 1860) is now the local police station.

Portlethen Primary School opened in 1962.{{Cite web |last=Gossip |first=Shona |date=2015-03-24 |title=Portlethen Primary to be capped to tackle overcrowding |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/528935/portlethen-primary-capped-tackle-overcrowding/ |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=Press and Journal |language=en-GB}}

Portlethen Academy opened in 1987. The school was relocated to a new building in 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.portlethenacademy.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/school%20information.html |title=Welcome to Portlethen Academy |access-date=2011-01-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308185903/http://www.portlethenacademy.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/school%20information.html |archive-date=2008-03-08 }} Fishermoss School, opened in 1989. Hillside Primary School opened in March 2017.

Portlethen is next to the A92. It has a train station which connects to Aberdeen and Dundee. Stagecoach operate bus services to/from Portlethen.

The Portlethen & District Community Council (PDCC) monthly in Portlethen Academy, normally on the fourth Tuesday of each month and considers many issues including development proposals and transport. Meetings are open to the public and offer an opportunity to raise topics of relevance to the local community.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

Portlethen Gala is a social and community event held every summer on the last Saturday in August.

• Barry Jones, a magician featured on the 2010 TV Series The Magicians, is originally from Portlethen.{{cite web |url=http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/2082470 |title=Evening Express - Article - Magicians Barry and Stuart are prime time stars |access-date=2011-01-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726215817/http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/2082470 |archive-date=2011-07-26 }}
• Lesley McKay, a drama teacher at Portlethen Academy, was a in-vision continuity announcer on Grampian TV in the 1980s and 90s under the name Kay Duncan.{{Cite web |url=http://www.grampianstudios.com/continuity_suite.html |title=The Grampian Television Studios |access-date=23 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116081326/http://www.grampianstudios.com/continuity_suite.html |archive-date=16 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}

• Bishops' Wars
• Craigmaroinn
• Mounth
• Portlethen Moss

File:Findon to Portlethen - geograph.org.uk - 955123.jpg|Looking towards to Portlethen from the coasts of Findon Ness

File:Portlethen Harbour and the North Sea - geograph.org.uk - 115731.jpg|Portlethen Harbour and the North Sea

File:Craigmaroinn - geograph.org.uk - 1361582.jpg|Skerry of Craigmaroinn

File:Mains of Portlethen - geograph.org.uk - 1409988.jpg|Mains of Portlethen Gated entrance

File:Down Craigmarn Road - geograph.org.uk - 1409926.jpg|Craigmarn Road Street

File:Pig Asleep in Old Portlethen Village - geograph.org.uk - 152453.jpg|A pig of Old Portlethen

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120702040630/http://www.pdcc.org.uk/ Portlethen & District Community Council Website]

{{Kincardine and Mearns, Aberdeenshire places|state=uncollapsed}}

{{Aberdeenshire places|state=collapsed}}

{{Geographic Location

|title = Destinations from Portlethen

|Northwest = Banchory-Devenick

|North = Aberdeen

|Northeast = Findon

|West = Maryculter

|Centre = Portlethen

|East = Portlethen Village

|Southwest = Cammachmore

|South = Newtonhill, Stonehaven

|Southeast = Downies

}}

{{Authority control}}