BALLATER, a village, in the parish of Glenmuick,
TuLLiCH, and Glengairn, district of Kincardine
O'Neil, county of Aberdeen; containing 3*1 inhabitants.
This place, which is situated in a beautiful valley,
on the north bank of the Dee, was formed about the
beginning of the present century, by the late proprietor,
William Farquharson, Esq., of Monaltrie, by whose
directions the site was laid out for the erection of regular
streets and squares. The streets cross each other at
right angles; the squares, with allotments of ground, have
been let out in perpetual feu tenements. Besides the
numerous well-constructed private houses, the village
contains an excellent inn, some good shops, a circulating
library, and a post-oflRce communicating with Aberdeen,
to which place there is a daily mail-coach, together
with several weekly carriers. The salubrity of the air,
and the imposing scenery of the locality, draw many
visiters from Aberdeen and other parts in the summer
months; but the chief attraction is the chalybeate
waters of Pananich, in the vicinity, which hold in solution
carbonate of iron, lime, magnesia, &c., and are considered
of much efficacy in scorbutic and nephritic
complaints. There are superior hot, cold, and shower
baths, and many convenient lodging-houses. In a square
in the village stand the parish church, and, at a short
distance, the parochial school. Over the Dee is a good
wooden bridge of four arches, erected in 1834 at a cost of
upwards of £2000.