Ellon is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is almost 16 miles (26 km) north of Aberdeen, lying on the River Ythan, which has one of the couple of undeveloped river estuaries on the eastern coast of Scotland. It is in the ancient region of Formartine. Its name is believed to come from the Gaelic term Eilean, an island, on account of the existence of an island in the River Ythan, which offered a hassle-free fording point. According to population estimates from 2006, the town has a permanent resident population of around 9860 people. Ellon has benefited from the North Sea oil demand, and is one of the major dormitory towns for Aberdeen. Routine and frequent bus services connect Ellon with Aberdeen, Inverurie, Peterhead, Fraserburgh and surrounding towns and villages, serving both the town centre and the large Park and Ride facility at the eastern edge of the town. Ellon belongs to the proposed Energetica corridor of development. The population is broadening as young families seek to get out of Aberdeen and move to surrounding towns like Ellon, Inverurie and Banchory. During 2006, Ellon ranked as the town with the 4th most rapidly increasing average house prices in Scotland. Places of interest within the town include 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 beside the Ythan, from which herons, salmon, trout and otters may be observed. The Meadows sports centre has lots of 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 find trustworthy specialists in Ellon to make certain of quality.