District
Banffshire Tartans Page
Banffshire, nestled along the stunning Moray Firth coast in northeast Scotland, is a historic county known for its dramatic seascapes, rich fishing heritage, and picturesque towns like Banff and Macduff. Once a thriving hub of trade and maritime activity, Banffshire played an important role in the development of Scotland’s northeast. The area’s history includes medieval castles, Jacobite intrigue, and connections to early religious foundations. Duff House, an 18th-century Georgian mansion near Banff, stands as a grand reminder of the region’s historical significance.
Banffshire Tartans
1 variationsEach tartan can have multiple variations, the most common of which are Ancient, Modern, Weathered, Hunting and Dress
About tartan variations
- Ancient
- Modern
- Weathered
- Hunting
- Dress
Ancient Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans, mossy greens and sky blues, a more orangey red and some would say showing off the pattern to much greater effect as as the contrasts are much brighter than the Modern tartans. The pattern or sett remains the same across all variations of a single tartan, and only the shades or tones vary.
Helpful Advice
Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Modern Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans. Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Helpful Advice
The Modern tartans are often the more subtle combinations such as the classic Black Watch Modern
Weathered Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer, more earthy colours typical of the Weathered tartans, reminiscent of bolder colours subjected to wind, rain and sunshine producing beautiful faded tones, olive greens and browns, and very light blues with reds that are more pink than red.
Helpful Advice
Some mills refer to the Weathered tartans as Muted.
Hunting Tartan
The Hunting Tartans are the camouflage tartans and some clans don't have these variations because they are already predominantly green or brown and don't need amendment to blend in with nature's colours. The Black Watch or Gunn tartans are examples of these, whereas a tartan such as the Fraser is predominantly red and would not provide much cover for men out hunting.
Helpful Advice
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
Dress Tartan
The Dress Tartans were designed as the name suggests for celebrations and highland dance. The sett or pattern of the tartan remains the same and the main colour is changed to white, or extra white is added to the pattern to give it a brighter, more "fancy" appearance. The Scots do like to bend the rules and occasionally instead of white thread, yellow is used and this is where the rather wild MacLeod Dress Modern and Barclay Dress Modern came from.
Helpful Advice
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
From the Start
Banffshire Tartan Origins & History
Explore the History
The Clans of Banffshire
Several Scottish clans have deep roots in Banffshire, reflecting the region's rich and often turbulent history. Clan MacDuff, one of the oldest Scottish clans, traditionally held power in the area and gave their name to the town of Macduff. Clan Gordon, a dominant force in northeastern Scotland, also had significant influence in Banffshire during the clan conflicts of the 15th and 16th centuries. Clan Ogilvie, with ancestral ties to the region, also played a notable role in the area’s feudal landscape and cultural identity. Banffshire borders the historic district of Buchan, and together they are celebrated in the Banff & Buchan tartan.
The Banff & Buchan Tartan
The Banff & Buchan Tartan is a relatively modern district tartan designed in 1995. The tartan draws on the sett of the historic Ogilvie tartan an old family linked to the area, the pattern incorporates rich blues evocative of the sea, the sky, and the nearby hills, accented with crisp white and fine yellow stripes that represent the areas cornfields.
Banffshire Abroad
The Canadian Connection
Banffshire’s influence stretches far beyond the northeast coast of Scotland, reaching across the Atlantic to the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The town of Banff in Alberta, Canada, takes its name from this Scottish county, a tribute to the homeland of George Stephen, later Lord Mount Stephen, who was born in Dufftown, Banffshire. As the first president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, Stephen played a key role in the development of Canada’s transcontinental infrastructure. In 1884, he named the Canadian town “Banff” after his birthplace region, linking the majestic landscapes of Alberta with the historic character of northeast Scotland. Today, both Banffs though worlds apart in geography share a name that reflects centuries of Scottish emigration, legacy, and pride.
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