History meets harmony; the ruins of an ancient castle nursed by nature. Explore the castle and ponder its troubled past; then walk under the trees to the poetry of peace, a song of solace all around.
A timber castle was built here in the 1100s, including a motte (mound) and courtyard. Then in the early 1400s a stone towerhouse replaced the earlier castle, including a great hall. Extensive remodelling took place in the 1500s, increasing the castle in both size and height. In the 1600s further reconstruction resulted in the stone castle we know today.
The first castle was built by Earl Duncan (II) of Fife. However in 1314 Robert the Bruce granted the castle and lands to Sir Adam Gordon de Huntly. Loyal to King Robert, the Gordons became a powerful family in the area; around 1445, Alexander, 2nd Lord Gordon, became Earl of Huntly.
The Gordons continued to enjoy power and prestige locally until 1562, when the army of Mary Queen of Scots defeated the 4th Earl in battle. However the family’s land and titles were returned in 1565 to George Gordon, the 5th Earl.
Further bad luck afflicted the family when in 1649 George Gordon, the 2nd Marquis of Huntly, was executed in Edinburgh for his service to Charles 1. Finally, in 1923 the then ruined castle was handed to the state.
The dark interior of the castle conjures ghostly shadows and murky deeds lost to time. However, the silent trees outside speak of fragile peace, a soft ballad to Scotland and its beauty.
Huntly is 40 miles north west of Aberdeen, and accessible by both bus and train from Aberdeen’s Union Square.
Credits
Allan Rutherford: The Huntly Castle Official Souvenir Guide (published by Historic Environment Scotland, 2006 and 2025).
Love Aberdeenshire 