Ellon is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is approximately 16 miles (26 km) north of Aberdeen, lying on the River Ythan, which has some of the handful of undeveloped river estuaries on the eastern coast of Scotland. It is in the ancient area of Formartine. Its name is believed to originate from the Gaelic word Eilean, an island, on account of the presence of an island in the River Ythan, which provided a helpful fording point. In accordance with population estimations from 2006, the town has a permanent resident population of around 9860 people. Ellon has benefited from the North Sea oil demand, and is among the principal dormitory towns for Aberdeen. Regular and frequent bus services link Ellon with Aberdeen, Inverurie, Peterhead, Fraserburgh and surrounding towns and towns, serving both the town centre and the large Park and Ride facility at the eastern edge of the town. Ellon becomes part of the proposed Energetica corridor of development. The population is broadening as young families seek to get away from Aberdeen and relocate to neighboring towns like Ellon, Inverurie and Banchory. Through 2006, Ellon ranked as the town with the fourth most rapidly increasing average house prices in Scotland. Places of interest within the town consist of the ruins of Ellon Castle, surrounded by walls referred to as the Deer Dyke, and the Auld Brig, a category A listed bridge over the Ythan, constructed in 1793 and still in use as a pedestrian bridge. The Riverside Park offers pathways alongside the Ythan, from which herons, salmon, trout and otters may be observed. The Meadows sports centre has several sporting facilities and clubs, featuring football and rugby pitches, an astroturf pitch for hockey, a gym, and a multi-use sports hall. For all your home renovations, make sure to identify credible experts in Ellon to make certain of quality.