Huntly Castle

Built by the Earls of Fyfe and later improved by the Gordons, Huntly Castle is one of the finest ruins in Aberdeenshire. Currently, under the stewardship of Historic Environment Scotland, it should be high on your list of ruins to visit while in North East Scotland.

I had been to Huntly Castle once before, probably more than 30 years ago. I couldn't remember much about it, so it was about time for a revisit! My wife and I decided to take a long weekend and tour many historic sites across Aberdeenshire. What better place to start than this impressive ruin?

Our visit to Huntly Castle

We were local to Huntly, living near Buckie, so it was only a 35-minute drive to the castle. But first, as we were passing through Keith, we stopped off at the fantastic Deli Shop on Mid Street to grab a picnic - the food here is terrific.

Huntly Castle Car Park

As it had been so long since my last visit to Huntly, I couldn't remember where the car park was, but there are plenty of options at the castle, both the castle's dedicated car park and the nearby Cooper Park and Deveron Park car parks. We parked up at Cooper Park on this occasion; it had the best view of the castle.

The official car park is just to the left of the ticket office/gift shop. There was no charge for parking at any of the car parks.

From the car parks, the castle looks impressively large and imposing.

 

 

Huntly Castle Ticket Office

The only way to access the castle is via the official ticket office, which is directly next to the car park. We arrived sharp at opening time (10 am), and a lovely staff member welcomed us.

The ticket office also has a lovely gift shop with the usual stuff, like guides, scarves/hats, and shortbread. On one side, there is a great model of Huntly Castle in one of its earlier phases.

Entry costs were pretty reasonable at £7.50 per adult or £8.25 with the additional donation.

The staff member mentioned she would have to unlock the castle before we could enter; this worked out well as we had a short 5-minute initial tour while she unlocked the gate and told us about many features of the first part of the castle. Very impressive Historic Scotland!

 

 

Entering the castle grounds

From the main entrance, the castle feels enormous, with the large round tower dominating the structure. The path led us to an information board that explained the purpose of each floor with a detailed cross-section. I saw the mention of the prison at the tower's base and wondered if it would be accessible.

 

 

Following the path to the left, we found remnants of the old medieval road that once led to the castle; just a little section of cobbles was left. Just past this, we could see part of Huntly Golf Club and, luckily, a man taking a swing, ideal!

 

First, we explored the many outbuildings, including the bakery and brewhouse. Information boards with interesting facts were everywhere.

The motte of the original castle still exists; it's just a large flat area now with no trace of the castle, but the mound is obviously man-made.

 

Entering the castle

The main entrance is accessed via the courtyard and has beautiful ornate carvings/heraldry above the door. Much of the catholic imagery has been defaced, including depictions of Christ risen. The royal arms of James VI and Anne of Denmark can be seen in the lower centre, and the bottom panel displays the coat of arms of the Marquis and Marchioness of Huntly.

We opted to go down into the castle first. It was quite spooky descending into the belly of the ruin. A long corridor goes down the length of the castle, with doors to vaults on the left and a final passageway to the prison. The first vault contained sections of masonry from the castle; the other two rooms were empty.

 

 

Along the corridor's walls were ancient writing and other markings, now protected by perspex panels. I couldn't make out what any of these said.

 

 

A short corridor leads you to the prison door, where we looked down into the pit. I nearly jumped out of my skin by what looked back at me! I won't spoil the surprise for your own visit.

We retraced our steps and went up the spiral staircase from the main entrance. The castle increased in grandeur as we progressed up the levels. The servants used the mid-levels, and banquets were held in the great hall.

The top floor was my favourite area, with two finely carved fireplaces protected from the elements with perspex covers. These hearths really gave me a sample of the grandeur the castle inhabitants once enjoyed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

History of Huntly Castle

Here is a very brief overview of the history of Huntly Castle:

The original castle, known as the Peel of Strathbogie, was constructed around 1190 by the Earls of Fife to safeguard the crossing point of the rivers Bogie and Deveron. It was the formidable Gordon family, however, who took control of the castle in the 1300s, eventually renaming it Huntly Castle.

The castle's ruins showcase its evolution through Scotland's history—from the early motte-and-bailey structure of the 1100s to the later medieval tower house and finally to the grand stone palace of the Jacobean period.

Strathbogie Castle - The Peel of Strathbogie

Duncan, the 2nd Earl of Fife, received the Strathbogie estate around 1190 as a reward for his loyalty to William I during his campaign against the MacWilliams of Moray. It's likely he built the first castle at this site. In 1204, his son David inherited the estate, and the family eventually became earls of Atholl through marriage. The site of the original castle is now a grassy mound, and the area that served as the service court is buried under later stone construction.

The Gordons of Huntly - Sir Adam Gordon

After siding with the losing faction at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, the Fifes of Strathbogie were stripped of their lands and titles. Robert the Bruce awarded Strathbogie to Sir Adam Gordon of Huntly, a loyal supporter, for his allegiance. By 1445, Alexander, the 2nd Lord Gordon, was made Earl of Huntly, marking the beginning of the Gordon's ascendancy in northeast Scotland, an area that became known as 'Gordon country.'

Transformation into a palace

The transformation into a majestic palace began around 1450 under the newly titled Earl of Huntly. George Gordon, the 4th Earl and known as 'Cock o' the North,' significantly renovated the palace in the 1550s. His grandson, the 6th Earl, further enhanced the palace, inside and out, to celebrate his new title as the 1st Marquis of Huntly in 1599. His contributions still captivate visitors today, including a striking heraldic decoration above the main door, double-height oriel windows, a large round tower, a rectangular turret, and an inscription along the roofline affirming the Gordons' ownership of the castle.

FAQs on Huntly Castle

Here are a few frequently asked questions about Huntly Castle.

How to get to Huntly Castle

The town of Huntly can accessed via the A96 coming from the Aberdeen direction from the southeast or Keith travelling south southeast.

1. From the ASDA roundabout, turn off the A96 directly into Huntly down George V Avenue.

2. Continue along this road until you reach the town centre.

3. Progress to the far side of the main square along Castle Street.

4. Pass through the archway of the Simpson Building at Gordon Schools.

5. Follow the long straight down to the castle.

6. Park at the right at Cooper Park, or continue further to the official castle car park.

Huntly also has a dedicated railway station; if you fancy a day trip from the cities, you can get a train here directly from Aberdeen or Inverness.

Is Huntly Castle worth visiting?

Yes, it's a brilliant ruin with many different areas to explore. There are expansive castle grounds and multiple levels within the castle itself.

Is Huntly Castle free?

No, the fees are as follows:

Adults - £7.50
Concession - £6
Child - £4.50

Family tickets:
1 adult, 2 children - £15
1 adult, 3 children - £21.50
2 adults, 3 children - £25.50

There's also the option to pay a little bit extra as an additional donation to the castle's upkeep.

How old is Huntly Castle?

The original castle, which no longer exists, would have been around 830 years old; the current ruin of Huntly Castle is about 730 years old.

Are there toilets at Huntly Castle?

Yes, a dedicated toilet block is at the far end of the site on the River Deveron side. The toilets are not at the ticket office. When we visited, they were spotless.

Are there any other sights near Huntly Castle?

Here are a few suggestions:

• Balvenie Castle and Auchindoun Castle are a 20-minute drive west near Dufftown if you fancy more castles. Fyvie Castle is a 30-minute drive east and is an impressive baronial-style castle.

• Glen Grant Distillery Gardens can be found in the small town of Rothes.

• Macduff Marine Aquarium is a 30-minute drive northeast.

• Craigellachie Bridge and Linn Falls are lovely places to visit near Aberlour to the west.

• Leith Hall is a 15-minute drive south.

• Huntly is a lovely town with great amenities, including ASDA and Tesco superstores. I highly recommend checking out Dean's of Huntly and trying their fantastic shortbread.

Key information on Huntly Castle

• Huntly Castle is an impressive ruin in the town of Huntly in northeast Scotland.

• The castle was built in the 1300s by the Gordon family.

• An earlier castle exists in the 1100s with a motte and bailey design.

• Historic Environment Scotland maintains the castle.

• The castle has much to see, including a medieval road, a prison, original heraldry and ornate stone fireplaces.

• Once upon a time, it was named Strathbogie Castle.

Conclusion

It was such a joy to explore Huntly Castle, especially on this beautiful spring morning. The ruin was much more impressive than I remember as a child, with many areas to discover and small details everywhere you look.

My wife and I continued our northeast tour and then headed to Leith Hall, a short distance from Huntly.