The Durris transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, situated close to the town of Stonehaven, within Durris Forest, located precisely at the 57th parallel north, within the area also known historically as Kincardineshire (). 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 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 EdinburghAberdeen Press and Journal Thursday 12 January 1967, page 3
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 , making it the tallest structure in Scotland.
Services listed by frequency
Analogue radio (FM VHF) FrequencykWRadio Listeners Guide 2010Service89.4 MHz2.1BBC Radio 291.6 MHz2.1BBC Radio 393.8 MHz2.1BBC Radio Scotland95.9 MHz2.1BBC Radio 496.9 MHz10Northsound 199.0 MHz2.1BBC Radio 1100.5 MHz10Classic FM106.8 MHz10Original 106
Digital radio (DAB) FrequencyBlockkWOperator220.35 MHz11C2Switchdigital223.93 MHz12A10Digital One225.64 MHz12B10BBC 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. FrequencyUHFkWService479.25 MHz22500BBC One Scotland503.25 MHz25500STV (North) (Grampian)527.25 MHz28500BBC Two Scotland559.25 MHz32500Channel 4839.25 MHz67100Channel 5
Digital television
30 September 2018 - present FrequencyUHFkWOperator482.0 MHz22100BBC B490.0 MHz2350SDN506.0 MHz25100Digital 3&4 514.0 MHz2650Arqiva A530.0 MHz28100BBC A546.0 MHz3050Arqiva B634.0 MHz4110Local (That's TV)
15 June 2011 - 30 September 2018 FrequencyUHFkWOperator482.0 MHz22100BBC B490.0 MHz2350SDN506.0 MHz25100Digital 3&4514.0 MHz2650Arqiva A530.0 MHz28100BBC A538.0 MHz2950Arqiva B562.0 MHz3214.5COM7 HD586.0 MHz3514.5COM8 HD
15 September 2010 - 15 June 2011 FrequencyUHFkWOperator482.0 MHz22100BBC B506.0 MHz25100Digital 3&4530.0 MHz28100BBC A634.0 MHz41†5Arqiva A714.0 MHz51†10Arqiva B722.0 MHz52†20SDN
† Temporary channel to avoid interference with Craigkelly transmitter.
Before switchover (until 15 September 2010) FrequencyUHFkWOperator546.0 MHz3020BBC (Mux 1)578.0 MHz3420Digital 3&4 (Mux 2)634.0 MHz415Arqiva (Mux C)658.0 MHz445Arqiva (Mux D)713.8 MHz51-10BBC (Mux B)722.2 MHz52+20SDN (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
External links Entry for Durris transmitting station at The Transmission Gallery Skyscraperpage.com Durris Transmitter at thebigtower.com