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

Etymology
The name of this parish is derived from the Gaelic "Rath," which means "a round fort," and Rath, pronounced Ro, means "a circle" used to express a halo, thus: "tha roth n'an gheal- aich," "there is a halo or circle round the moon." Rath-an (the last word is abhuinn contracted) means, "the fort on the river or stream."

Boundaries
The parish is bounded on the north by the parish of Fraerburgh; on the east by the German Ocean; on the south by the parishes of Lonmay and Strichen; and on the west by the detached portion of Fraserburgh and the parish of Tyrie.

Extent
In a direct line north-east to south-west, from Cairnbulghead to the top of Mormond-hill, it measures 6½ miles; and its greatest breadth, also in a direct line, from Knowsie to the Mill of Tyrie (south-east to north-west), measures 3¾ miles. The whole area is computed to be 9,789.758 acres.

Topography
The lower north-eastern division of the parish is flat, but very undulating, from the sea shore to Mormond-house and Auchiries; and from these places to the top of Mormond, which is 744 feet above sea level, it is hilly, and of this hill, says the writer of the old Statistical Account of the parish (1703), "its environs, and several patches of moss, are good for nothing except affording fuel." The water of Philorth, which divides the parish from Fraserburgh, from the sea to the Doolie burn the rise is only about 20 feet; and from this point up to the Mill of Tyrie, the stream has but a sluggish flow. The church stands 71 feet, and the bridge on the Fraserburgh road over the water of Philorth is 45 feet 8 inches. The Trefor Hill is 54 feet, the Gallow Hill is 138 feet, the hill of Forrest is 184 feet, and the junction of the Peterhead road with the Aberdeen is 163 feet. The top of St. Eddren's Slack, on the north- east face of Mormond, is 600 feet, and the Green Hill is 561 feet. St. Oyne's Hill is 103 feet, and Jenny Wright is also 100 feet above sea level.

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