Clatt

A New History of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Smith (Ed), 1875

Etymology
The name originally written Clet, or Clett, is from the Gaelic word Cleithe, pronounced Cleit, which signifies concealed, and is very descriptive of the low lying position of the church and village of Clatt.

Boundaries
It is bounded on the north by the parish of Kennethmont; on the east by the parish of Leslie; on the south by the parish of Tullynessle; and on the west by the parishes of Auchindoir and Rhynie.

Extent
Its greatest length in a direct line from east to west, along the water of Gadie, is 4½ miles; and from the south boundary on the top of Correen, to the lowermost point on the Bogie, at Craighall, it is 4 miles. The whole area is estimated to be about 8,320 acres.

Topography
The whole parish of Clatt lies on the north side of the Suie and Correen hills, which form part of the mountain range which runs from Benachie to Lord Arthur's Cairn, in the top of the Vale of Alford. The ridge of these hills form the southern boundary of the parish with Tullynessle. The highest point on the Suie-hill is 1362 feet above sea level; the summit of the Suie-hill road (from Bridge of Alford to Kennethmont), is 1282 feet, and the top of the Correen ridge is 1568 feet, which is the highest point of land in the parish. The lowest point on the Gadie Water, on the eastern boundary with the parish of Leslie, is about 550 feet; the Tower-lodge of Knockespock is 665 feet; the church of Clatt is 730 feet; the Bridge of Kearn, on the western boundary with Auchindoir parish, is 642 feet; and the lowest point in the parish, on the Bogie Water, is about 545 feet above sea level.

The northern slopes of the Suie and Correen hills extend into and form the low rounded hill on which the house of Knockespock stands, with its surrounding plantations, having the higher White-hill of Tillyangus on the west. The division of the parish, north of that branch of the Gadie which flows by the church, is intersected by a low ridge, which commences at the burn of Kearn, and runs eastward by Percylieu, the Auchlynes, and by New Leslie, also on the north side of the Gadie; otherwise, the surface of the parish varys little from a slightly undulating plain, only relieved by farm houses, and some old ash and plane trees around the church.

[A New History of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Smith (Ed), 1875]