Alford is a big town in Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland, lying simply southern of the River Don. It exists within the Howe of Alford (likewise called the Vale of Alford) which occupies the center reaches of the River Don. The place-name is thought to come from the Scots auld ford; its initial setting getting on the financial institutions of the Don. The "L" audio in words has, with time, been dropped, and is silent. Additionally, the name could be a tautology; a combination of ath and ford, both meaning 'ford' in Gaelic and also Scots respectively. Alford provided its name to a battle of the Battle of Alford (1645 ). It is likewise the house of the Aberdeen Angus livestock reproduce, which is commemorated by a life-sized version of a bull on the edge of the town, which the Queen Mother inaugurated in 2001. It is thought that the original breeding place of the livestock was Buffal, situated in between Difficult (Tulloch) as well as Craigievar close-by Alford. One more specialty for the town is Alford Oat meal, ground at Montgarrie, simply outside the community. Alford additionally sports the Alford Area University, with a collection as well as pool. The Alford Valley Railway, Grampian Transport Museum, Alford Heritage Museum as well as Craigievar Castle are popular site visitor attractions, with a range of various other archaeological sites, rock circles, and castles (including Balfluig Castle, Castle Fraser and Drum Castle) being within simple reach by road. One rock circle, initially believed to be primitive, became a 20-year-old reproduction. Positioned in Alford, Haughton Country Park is a big and prominent green area with a campers park as well as woodland strolls. The 18 hole Alford Golf Club is an eye-catching and also positive training course which has a huge neighborhood membership.