Keith

See also a large Click On Map for the area Top Attractions.

Camping & Touring Parks in the area.

The image top is of Reidhaven Square at the south side of Keith.

St Thomas Catholic Church is by the Square, with an interesting interior, especially the Dome. Follow the Large Images link above for Photos. This Church was built in the 1830s with the Copper Dome added in 1916.

Mid Street is the narrow Main Street in the Town, where most of the shops, cafes, and restaurants can be found.

At the end of Mid Street is Church Road, where you can find the War Memorial and Bandstand Gardens.

Also on Church Street is St Rufus Church, built in the early 1800s to replace the Medieval Church of Old Keith.

A short walk downhill from St Rufus Church is the Old Cemetery, and Old Bridge built in 1609, claimed to be the oldest surviving dated Bridge in Moray.

By the Old Bridge is the Keith & Dufftown Railway Station. This line was closed to Passenger Trains in 1968. It was re-opened in 2000 for Heritage Trains to run in Summer between Keith and Dufftown, 11 miles in distance.

Strathisla Distillery and St Rufus Park are down Seafield Avenue, by St Rufus Church. The Distillery was founded in 1786, oldest working Distillery in North Scotland, producing Single Malt Whisky from 8 to 65 years old.

This is one of a number of Single Malt Distilleries in Speyside that ca be visited, Distillery List.

The Grampian Hotel is on Regent Square, where you can find Notice Boards giving information on Keith and the Area.

Keith Golf Club is a short distance up Fife Street from Regent Square, founded in 1901. The original Course was closed during WWII to be used as Farm Land. The new Course was opened in the 1960s.

Keith History

The most notable Clan in this area was: Ogilvie, with Gordon, Grant, and MacDuff /Duff close by.

1100s - Old Keith evolved on the west side of the River Isla around a Church. A Cattle Market emerged with Highland Drovers taking Cattle to Keith to be sold to Southern Dealers.

1480 - Milton Castle was built for George Ogilvie of Milton, where Seafield Street is today.

1569 - Keith Old Church was re-built.

1609 - the Old Packhorse Bridge was built over the River Isla by the Old Church.

1746 March - a Jacobite Army won a skirmish at Keith.

1746 April - the Jacobite's were defeated at the Battle of Culloden, 52 miles west of Keith, the final Jacobite Battle.

1755 - James Ogilvy, 6th Earl of Findlater, began the construction of New Keith on the east side of the River, laid out in a Grid Pattern around Reidhaven Square.

1786 - Strathisla Distillery was built close to the ruins of Milton Castle, producing Single Malt Whisky.

1819 - Keith Old Church was abandoned, replaced by St Rufus Church that had been built around that time in the New Town, just across the River.

1823 - the Excise Act was passed, allowing the many Illegal Distilleries in the area to begin legal production, as long as they paid Taxes.

Strathisla Distillery has a Visitor Centre, the others in this area do not, such as Glen Keith and Strathmill in Keith, and Glentauchers 4 miles west.

1800s - Keith expanded around the Whisky and Textile industries, still known for Kilt Making today.

Today, Keith is home to the Keith Brewery, producing a range of Beers, including some of the strongest on the Planet, for the UK and around the World.