Banffshire

Banffshire (/ˈbænfʃər/; Scots: Coontie o Banffshire; Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Bhanbh) is a historic county in Scotland. The county town is Banff, although the largest settlement is Buckie to the west. The historic county ceased to be used for local government purposes in 1975. Since 1996 the area has been split between the Aberdeenshire and Moray council areas. The historic county boundaries of Banffshire are still used for certain functions, being a registration county and lieutenancy area. It borders the Moray Firth to the north, Moray and Inverness-shire to the west, and Aberdeenshire to the east and south. Considerable evidence of prehistoric human habitation exists in the area, particularly near the coast. Examples include the cairn at Longman Hill and Cairn Lee, near the Burn of Myrehouse. The area also includes the ruins of several medieval castles and the 12th century kirk of Gamrie. Banffshire's origins as a shire (the area administered by a sheriff) are obscure.