Key facts
- Operator
- Historic Environment Scotland
- Condition
- Ruin
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
Pinpoint
Castle St, Huntly AB54 4SH
Telephone 01466 793191
Possible Opening hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
The ruined seat of the Gordon family, once one of the grandest palace-castles in the north of Scotland, with heraldic stone carvings on the entrance front that reviewers rate among the best surviving anywhere. Historic Environment Scotland keeps it staffed, and there's enough left standing — cellars, a prison, a tower you can climb — to fill a proper hour of exploring.
Worth the trip
The carved heraldic frontage above the main entrance, singled out by reviewers as some of the finest ornate stonework of any Scottish ruin.
Before you go
There's no road signage pointing you in, so set a sat nav destination rather than watching for signs — and as of recent visits the visitor toilets are out of service, so plan accordingly.
Reviewers are impressed by the scale and detail of Huntly Castle's ruins, particularly the stone carvings and the ability to climb to the top of the tower, with the on-site information praised as informative and engaging. One recent visitor flagged that the toilets had been out of service for some time, but otherwise the site comes recommended, including free parking even in the off-season.
Gordon palace-castle; currently no visitor toilets
“Impressed remains of what would once have been a magnificent building. I didn’t see any road signage directing me to the castle or car park but Google maps got me there ok.”— Mayflip, visitor review
