Local tradition associates Collieston with the arrival of
St Ternan, a
Columban monk said to have been active in the conversion of the local
picts to
Christianity. There is, however, evidence that people lived here during much earlier times. Collieston was established as a fishing village by the 16th century, and it provides the first safe harbour in over fifteen miles of beaches and
dunes stretching north from
Aberdeen. Fishing for
herring,
haddock,
whiting and
cod flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries and formed the foundation of Collieston's economy. The village became known for "Collieston Speldings", salted and sun-dried haddock and whiting, which proved a popular delicacy across Britain. As
drift netting developed during the mid-19th century, fishing began to decline and the focus of the industry shifted to places such as
Peterhead, as the harbour at Collieston was too small to accommodate the larger boats required. The numerous sea
caves in the nearby
cliffs, and small coves with shingle beaches provided ideal terrain for
smugglers. In the late 18th century it was estimated by the
Excise that up to 8000 gallons of foreign
spirits were being illegally landed in the area every month. In 1798, the notorious village smuggler, Phillip Kennedy, was killed by a blow from an exciseman's
cutlass. His grave and tombstone still stands in the village
graveyard. As of 2024, the village had no permanent shop, with residents relying on nearby
Ellon for shopping. == Notable people ==