Leochel-Cushnie, a parish of central Aberdeenshire, comprising the ancient parishes of Leochel and Cushnie, united temporarily in 1618, permanently in 1795. Its church stands, 1029 feet above sea-level, 6 miles SW of the post-town and station, Alford. It is bounded NW by Kildrummy, N by Alford, NE, E, and SE by Tough, S by Coull and Tarland-Migvie, and W by Towie. Its utmost length, from E to W, is 7 ¼ miles; its breadth, from N to S, varies between 2 1/8 and 4¾ miles; and its area is 12, 859½ acres, of which 3 1/8 are water. The drainage is carried northward to the Don by Leochel burn (running 3 5/8i miles north-north-westward along the Tough and Alford boundaries and through the interior) and by its affluents-Rumblie Burn (flowing 2 1/8 miles east-by-southward along the Coull boundary), the Burn of Cushnie (flowing 4½ miles east-north-eastward through the interior), and Droichs Burn (tracing part of the northern boundary). The surface is hilly, sinking in the extreme N to 500 feet above sea-level, and rising thence to 1468 feet at Langgadlie Hill, 1723 at Scar Hill, and 2032 at Sochaugh or Cushnie Hill, which culminate respectively on the northern, western, and south-western boundaries. Granite is the predominant rock; and the soil of the valleys is clayey for the most part but in places a fine alluvium, of some of the hill-slopes is a fertile loam. Nearly half of the entire area is in tillage; about 1150 acres are under wood; and the rest is either pasture or moor. Cairns and stone circles were at one time numerous, and several ` eirde ' or ` Pict's houses ' have been found on Cairncoullie farm. Craigievar Castle, Cushnie House, Hallhead House, and Lynturk House are all noticed separately; and Sir William Forbes, Bart., divides most of the property w.ith 4 lesser proprietors. Ecclesiastically including the Corse or northern division of Coull, Leochel-Cushnie is in the presbytery of Alford and synod of Aberdeen; the living is worth £260. The parish church, built in 1798, contains 500 sittings. The Free church, a conjoint charge with Towie, stands 9 furlongs WSW of the parish church; on the NE verge of the parish is Lynturk U.P. church; and four public schools-Cairncoullie, Corse, Craigievar, and Cushnie-with respective accommodation for 60, 90, 140, and 96 children, had (1882) an average attendance of 40, 76, 55, and 88, and grants of £42, 7s., £70, 6s., £49, 11s. 6d., and £78, 15s. Valuation (1860) £4919, (1882) £8176, 6s. 6d. Pop. (-1801) 668, (1831) 1077, (1861) 1173, (1871) 1232, (1881) 1217.—Ord. Sur., sh. 76, 1874.
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