Longside: Churches, RAF Memorial and Golf

Longside offers several distinct highlights for a stay: historic churches and a former manse, the memorial at Longside Airfield, and archery and golf. Nearby, Cairn Catto lies in Buchan’s open, rolling landscape. When planning your trip, it helps to consider architectural history, seasonal activities and sporting details separately. This can help you decide whether to focus mainly on historic buildings, the airfield memorial or sporting activities.

Churches and architectural history

Dun A Cluach, the former manse of Longside, dates from 1825. Its exterior and floor plan remain largely unchanged. It is the oldest surviving manse in the village and forms a historic group of buildings with the parish church and the remains of the old church.

Longside Parish Church stands on elevated ground within the village and is visible from many directions. Its rectangular silhouette, design by John Smith and construction in 1835/36 shape the character of this church. The churchyard contains well-preserved 18th-century stones as well as an obelisk erected in 1861 in memory of Jamie Fleeman.

Longside Old Parish Church was built between 1619 and 1620 and has had no roof since the 19th century. St John's Church in Longside dates from 1853, features an Early Gothic style with distinctive details, and is attributed to William Hay. Important for planning a visit: it is still used as a church; check visitor access separately before visiting.

The dates place the buildings in chronological order, from the older church through the manse to the later churches: Longside Old Parish Church was built in 1619/20, Dun A Cluach in 1825, Longside Parish Church in 1835/36 and St John's Church in 1853. This makes it possible to compare the different buildings by date without conflating their functions.

Longside Airfield: memorial and activities

The granite memorial at Longside Airfield commemorates the men and women who served at RAF Peterhead airfield from 1941 to 1945. The RAF Peterhead memorial is surrounded by a low, circular stone wall extending over 300 degrees.

Buchan Archers hold outdoor archery sessions at Longside Airfield from May to September. Check the session details again before your trip so you can factor this seasonal activity into your plans.

Buchan Aero Club also uses part of the former runway at Longside. This means different activities come together at the airfield: remembrance of service during 1941 to 1945, seasonal archery sessions and the club’s use of part of the former runway.

Golf and countryside around Longside

Longside Golf Club is an 18-hole course with a par of 66 and a length of 5,266 yards (4,815 m). The number of holes, par and length offer different ways to gauge the course: they describe the scale of play and the stated distance.

Near Longside, Cairn Catto is a 48-metre-long, wedge-shaped long barrow in Buchan’s open, rolling landscape. The measurement refers to its length. The golf course is described in terms of the scale of play and course length, while Cairn Catto is described by its shape and extent—two different perspectives on the surrounding area.

Discover more destinations: Aberdeen, Banff, Stonehaven, Johnshaven, Gardenstown, Inverbervie, Dinnet, Auchenblae.

For the broader travel overview: Aberdeenshire.