Milltown of Rothiemay



Milltown of Rothiemay (Scottish Gaelic: Ràth a' Mhuigh) is a small inland village, built mostly of granite, in the north-east of Scotland and is within the Moray council area bordering neighbouring Aberdeenshire across the river to the south-east. Historically part of Banffshire, it is around 6 mi north of Huntly, and 8 mi east of Keith. It lies on the banks of the River Deveron, close to where it joins the River Isla. The village has existed for several centuries.

The 17th-century cartographer James Gordon (1617–1686) was from Rothiemay. It was the birthplace of James Ferguson FRS (1710–1776), instrument-maker and astronomer. More recently, BBC radio presenter James Naughtie was born and brought up in the village.

Rothiemay Castle, partly dating from the 15th century, was rebuilt as a baronial country house in 1788, by James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife. The castle was demolished in 1963.

The village has its own primary school, and formerly had a railway station by the River Deveron 2+1/8 mi from the village. Almost all trace of the station has been lost although trains still operate on the Keith to Huntly mainline.

Irvine Laidlaw was made a life peer as Baron Laidlaw, of Rothiemay on 14 June 2004.