Ellon is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is approximately 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 area of Formartine. Its name is strongly believed to originate from the Gaelic word Eilean, an island, on account of the existence of an island in the River Ythan, which supplied a handy fording point. According to population estimations from 2006, the town has a permanent resident population of around 9860 people. Ellon has actually gained from the North Sea oil demand, and is among the major dormitory towns for Aberdeen. Routine 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 is part of the proposed Energetica corridor of development. The population is growing 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 feature 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, built in 1793 and still in use as a pedestrian bridge. The Riverside Park provides pathways alongside the Ythan, from which herons, salmon, trout and otters can be observed. The Meadows sports centre has numerous sporting facilities and clubs, including football and rugby pitches, an astroturf pitch for hockey, a fitness center, and a multi-use sports hall. For all your home makeovers, make certain to find reliable professionals in Ellon to make certain of quality.