Durris transmitting station

See also: Kirkton of Durris

Durris

Durris transmitting station (Aberdeenshire)
Mast height	322.0 metres (1,056 ft)
Coordinates	57°00′N2°23′W / 57°N 2.39°W / 57; -2.39
Built	1966
BBC region	BBC Scotland
ITV region	STV North

The Durris transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, situated close to the town of Stonehaven, within Durris Forest, within the area also known historically as Kincardineshire (grid reference NO763899 ). It is owned and operated by Arqiva, and is the tallest structure in Scotland.

History

It is also a feature in Durris Primary School's newest logo created in 2000 (the logo shows the mast on the hill with the sun and three trees).

It can be seen from the summit of Mither Tap, near Insch, Aberdeenshire and can also be spotted at night on the road down from the Lecht Ski Centre.

Construction

It has a 306.6 metres (1,006 ft) high guyed steel lattice mast, built by J. L. Eve Construction. It was constructed in 1966. 38-year-old Thomas Sutherland of Blairgowrie died in its construction on Monday 24 October 1966, falling 175 ft from 300 ft up the mast; the company had a regional office in Edinburgh ^[1]

Transmissions

Its coverage includes north east Scotland, from St. Andrews in the south to Fraserburgh in the north, including the city of Aberdeen. It also covers much of the North Sea coast between Dunbar and Berwick, although this coverage is not deliberate.

The analogue television transmission antennas surmounting the structure are contained within a GRP cylinder, and bring the overall height of the structure to 322.0 metres (1,056 ft), ^[2] making it the tallest structure in Scotland.

Services listed by frequency

Analogue radio (FM VHF)

Frequency	kW [3]	Service
89.4 MHz	2.1	BBC Radio 2
91.6 MHz	2.1	BBC Radio 3
93.8 MHz	2.1	BBC Radio Scotland
95.9 MHz	2.1	BBC Radio 4
96.9 MHz	10	Northsound 1
99.0 MHz	2.1	BBC Radio 1
100.5 MHz	10	Classic FM
106.8 MHz	10	Original 106

Digital radio (DAB)

Frequency	Block	kW [3]	Operator
220.35 MHz	11C	2	Switchdigital
223.93 MHz	12A	10	Digital One
225.64 MHz	12B	10	BBC National DAB

Analogue television

Analogue television was switched off during September 2010; BBC Two Scotland was closed on 1 September and the remaining four on 15 September.

Frequency	UHF	kW	Service
479.25 MHz	22	500	BBC One Scotland
503.25 MHz	25	500	STV (North) (Grampian)
527.25 MHz	28	500	BBC Two Scotland
559.25 MHz	32	500	Channel 4
839.25 MHz	67	100	Channel 5

Digital television

30 September 2018 - present Frequency UHF kW Operator 482.0 MHz 22 50 SDN 490.0 MHz 23 100 BBC B 506.0 MHz 25 50 Arqiva A 514.0 MHz 26 100 Digital 3&4 530.0 MHz 28 50 Arqiva B 546.0 MHz 30 100 BBC A [4]

15 June 2011 - 30 September 2018 Frequency UHF kW Operator 482.0 MHz 22 100 BBC B 490.0 MHz 23 50 SDN 506.0 MHz 25 100 Digital 3&4 514.0 MHz 26 50 Arqiva A 530.0 MHz 28 100 BBC A 538.0 MHz 29 50 Arqiva B 562.0 MHz 32 14.5 COM7 HD 586.0 MHz 35 14.5 COM8 HD

15 September 2010 - 15 June 2011 Frequency UHF kW Operator 482.0 MHz 22 100 BBC B 506.0 MHz 25 100 Digital 3&4 530.0 MHz 28 100 BBC A 634.0 MHz 41† 5 Arqiva A 714.0 MHz 51† 10 Arqiva B 722.0 MHz 52† 20 SDN † Temporary channel to avoid interference with Craigkelly transmitter.

Before switchover (until 15 September 2010) Frequency UHF kW Operator 546.0 MHz 30 20 BBC (Mux 1) 578.0 MHz 34 20 Digital 3&4 (Mux 2) 634.0 MHz 41 5 Arqiva (Mux C) 658.0 MHz 44 5 Arqiva (Mux D) 713.8 MHz 51- 10 BBC (Mux B) 722.2 MHz 52+ 20 SDN (Mux A)

See also

• List of masts
• List of radio stations in the United Kingdom
• List of tallest buildings and structures in Great Britain

References

1. Aberdeen Press and Journal Thursday 12 January 1967, page 3
2. "Planning Applications — Ref: APP/2007/0827". Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
3. Radio Listeners Guide 2010
4. "Durris". UK Free-UK. Retrieved 9 October 2018.

External links

• Entry for Durris transmitting station at The Transmission Gallery
• Skyscraperpage.com
• Durris Transmitter at thebigtower.com