CRUDEN  , a

village and parish on the E. coast of Aberdeen-shire, Scotland . Pop. of parish (1901) 3444 . It is situated at the head of Cruden Bay, 294 M . N.N.E. of Aberdeen by the Great North of Scotland railway company's branch line from Ellon to Boddam . The golf-course of 18 holes is one of the best in Scotland, and there is a sandy beach, with good bathing . There is some good fishing at Port Erroll, also called Ward of Cruden . Prehistoric remains have been found in the parish, and near Ardendraught, not far from the shore, Malcolm II. is said to have defeated Canute in 1014 . The Water of Cruden, which rises a few miles to the west, flows through the village into the North Sea . Slains Castle, a seat of the earl of Erroll, lies to the north of Cruden, but must not be confounded with the old castle of Slains, about 5 M. to the south-west, near the point where, according to tradition, the " St Catherine " of the Spanish Armada foundered in 1588 . The Bullers of Buchan are within 2 M. walk of Cruden .