Huntly: Cultural Trails, Nature and Unique Experiences

Huntly combines unusual outdoor experiences with art, history and regional flavours. The Huntly Nordic and Outdoor Centre is the UK's only purpose-built all-weather facility for cross-country skiing and roller skiing. Those who enjoy active days will find this a distinctive focus for their trip planning. The Huntly Falconry Centre offers another way to encounter the landscape and wildlife: during the season, it stages flying displays featuring owls, hawks, falcons and eagles. Interested groups and individuals can also receive falconry tuition there.

Active Days Around Huntly

For a shared outing, the family-friendly 2-mile circuit beginning at Huntly Square is a good choice. It follows mostly shared-use paths past Huntly Castle, the Nordic Outdoor and Ski Centre and the River Deveron. The set distance helps with planning the day, while the different stops can appeal to a range of interests within a travel group.

Huntly Square itself is also a useful reference point for finding your way around locally. Huntly Castle can be reached on foot from there in a short time. Between Huntly Castle and Huntly Lodge, Castle Bridge, also known as Elgin's Bridge, spans the River Deveron. Probably dating from the 17th century, the bridge is a single-arch rubble-stone bridge with a semicircular arch. Visitors interested in historic buildings can include these details in their exploration of Huntly without making the entire day about one single theme.

Art Trails and the White Wood

Huntly's Town Collection makes art and local history visible in a distinctive way. This living archive comprises artworks and other artefacts displayed in local shops, businesses, public buildings, hidden paths and local landmarks in Huntly and its surrounding area. Marked art trails run along paths, tracks and roads around Huntly. This creates an exploration route where you can discover different forms of art in connection with the town.

The White Wood complements these cultural impressions with a nature-focused setting. The living peace memorial in Huntly comprises 49 oak trees as well as 1,700 native trees, shrubs and wildflowers. It is being developed as a space for activities, inspiration and reflection. For families and travel groups, this provides a contrast to sporting activities and historic attractions: depending on how you feel that day, you can shift the focus between exercise, discovery and mindful breaks.

Market, Whisky and Shortbread

Local specialities are also part of Huntly's character. The Huntly Farmers' Market takes place on the first Saturday of every month except January, from 9 am to 1 pm at Huntly Square, AB54 8BR. It offers artisan-produced meat and baked goods, fresh seasonal vegetables, artisan cheeses and fresh seafood. Huntly Hairst is an annual harvest festival founded in 2002 and held on the first weekend of September.

In the town centre, Whiskies of Scotland offers a wide selection of whiskies for tasting and purchase. Dean's of Huntly is one of the local producers in Huntly and makes shortbread. Dean's in Huntly also includes a gift shop and a bistro. These offerings make Huntly appealing to travellers who want to combine cultural excursions with culinary discoveries.

Choose Huntly as Your Base

When looking for a holiday apartment in Huntly, you can first consider which daily rhythm suits your travel group. Huntly Square connects several specific reference points: the 2-mile circuit starts here, the Farmers' Market is held here, and Huntly Castle can be reached on foot from here in a short time. For journeys along the A96, Dean's of Huntly is also a clearly identified reference point, as the business is located directly off this road.

If you would also like to compare other destinations, you can find Portlethen, Johnshaven, Macduff, New Deer, Ballater, Mintlaw, Chapel Of Garioch and Inverbervie here.

For the broader travel overview: Aberdeenshire.