Ellon is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is approximately 16 miles (26 kilometres) north of Aberdeen, lying on the River Ythan, which has one 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 handy fording point. According to 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 one of the main dormitory towns for Aberdeen. Regular and regular bus services connect 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 belongs to the proposed Energetica corridor of development. The population is broadening as young families seek to get out of Aberdeen and relocate to nearby towns like Ellon, Inverurie and Banchory. Throughout 2006, Ellon placed as the town with the fourth most rapidly increasing average house prices in Scotland. Places of interest within the town include the ruins of Ellon Castle, surrounded by walls called the Deer Dyke, and the Auld Brig, a category A listed bridge over the Ythan, developed in 1793 and still in use as a pedestrian bridge. The Riverside Park offers paths next to the Ythan, from which herons, salmon, trout and otters may be observed. The Meadows sports centre has many sporting facilities and clubs, including football and rugby pitches, an astroturf pitch for hockey, a gym, and a multi-use sports hall. For all your home renovations, be sure to find reputable contractors in Ellon to make certain of quality.