Place Name

Backside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Backside My Arse! Bottoms up in the Highlands.

Where the view is cheeky, and the name’s a laugh!

Introduction:

Aye, Backside. A place name that sounds like the punchline to a joke yer cheeky uncle tells after a few drams too many. Nestled away in bonnie Aberdeenshire - a region famed for its castles, cattle, and crisp coastal air - this delightfully cheeky wee hamlet offers more than just a laugh.

Sure, it might get a snicker or two from the bairns, but Backside is as real as it gets. It’s marked on maps, signposted on roads, and no, it’s no a daft prank by cartographers with a funny sense of humour (though we cannae say we blame them).

Whether ye're just passing through or enjoying the mental image, Backside gives ye a rare peek into the noble art of place-naming, where practicality, geography, and a complete lack of foresight come together in a bonnie way.

Toponymy:

So how did Backside end up with a name that sounds like the punchline to an anatomical joke?

Well, linguistically, it’s a bit less scandalous than it sounds. In auld Scots and Northern English dialects, “backside” often referred to the rear of a property or the land behind a main building - like the backyard, but with a few more thistles thrown in.

In rural Scottish usage, it could also simply mean the back part of a hill, farm, or village. So, Backside likely started as a very literal, utterly innocent description of its location - a settlement at the back o’ a slope, ridge, or estate.

That said, there’s no denying the comedy value has shot up over time, especially now that “backside” is more commonly linked to yer bum than yer barnyard.

Historical Context:

Backside may no be part of Scotland's grand historical tales, but like many wee hamlets scattered across Aberdeenshire, it has quietly watched centuries of change go by.

Medieval times: The land here would’ve likely been part of a larger estate, maybe supporting crofts or tenant farms. The name "Backside" might have helped differentiate one cluster of buildings from another - front side, back side, cow side, ye get the drift.

18th–19th centuries: As maps became more official and surveys more precise, local place names got locked in. Which means no one batted an eyelid when “Backside” was written down with total sincerity on an Ordnance Survey map.

20th century: With modernisation came road signs, postal routes, and the unfortunate realisation that someone was going to have to say “Backside” to delivery drivers, civil servants, and GPS devices.

To their credit, the locals have mostly taken it on the chin - or shall we say, on the cheek?

Points of Interest:

While Backside itself is more a wee mark on the map than a tourist hotspot, the surrounding Aberdeenshire area is full of worthy distractions. Here's what ye can explore near the rear end of Scottish geography:

• Bennachie Hills – A prominent range of hills nearby with stunning walking trails, ancient Pictish sites, and views that’ll leave yer backside sore (from hiking).

• Castle Fraser – One of Scotland’s grandest tower houses, located not far from Backside. If ye want to balance yer visit with something majestic, this is it.

• Pitcaple – Just down the road, this charming hamlet has a cool name and some great countryside vibes. The name may no be funny, but it makes for a good pit stop.

• Sheep – Plenty of them. Occasionally photogenic. Frequently indifferent.

• Fyvie Castle: A grand Scottish baronial castle with rich interiors and ghost stories.

• Glen Garioch Distillery - One of the oldest operating whisky distilleries in Scotland, located in nearby Oldmeldrum.

• Bennachie - A local range of hills with Iron Age history and popular walking trails.

• Inverurie - A bustling market town with shops, historical sites, and transport links.

Notable Figures:

Backside may no have produced a wealth of world-famous names, but there’s always room for a few honourable mentions:

• Local Farmers – The real backbone (or back-end?) of the community. Generations of hardy folk who’ve worked the land and presumably chuckled at the name at least once per lambing season.

• Ordnance Survey Heroes – Whoever had the job of naming or recording this place in official documents and didn’t change it to something safe like “Backfield” deserves a medal for comedic integrity.

• Anonymous Postie – The brave soul who delivers letters to “Backside Cottage” with a straight face and minimal smirking. True professionalism.

• George MacDonald - a writer and theologian born in Huntly (nearby), inspired fantasy authors including Tolkien and Lewis.

• Sir Patrick Geddes - a pioneering urban planner and sociologist, had connections to the Aberdeenshire region.

Conclusion:

Backside is a brilliant reminder that names, like history, dinnae always age the way ye expect them to. What was once a plain geographic descriptor has morphed into a comedy classic, a roadside giggle, and possibly the most underappreciated tourist destination in the UK.

So next time ye're planning a trip through Aberdeenshire, turn yer GPS toward Backside. It may be small, unassuming, and a wee bit cheeky, but it's real - and it’ll leave a lasting impression on yer… well, ye get the idea.

Want more places that make ye do a double-take? Mosey on over to Strange Place Names, where the geography is weird, the names are weirder, and the puns never stop.

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