Home
Places
Upper Donside to Huntly

Upper Donside to Huntly

A landscape of quiet beauty and rich history, stretching from Upper Donside to Huntly.

Jump to another place...

Select a place...

Jump to another place...

Select a place...

Stretching from the wide glens of Upper Donside to the historic market town of Huntly, this part of Aberdeenshire offers a landscape of quiet beauty, deep history, and genuine Highland character.

Castles rise from rolling farmland, rivers run clear through forested valleys, and traditional Highland Games still draw the whole community together each summer. It is a region that rewards those who venture slightly further from the well-trodden routes.

Alford

Alford is a lively rural town and a natural hub for exploring the surrounding countryside, with a good mix of heritage, culture, and outdoor adventure on its doorstep. The Grampian Transport Museum is the town's standout attraction, an outstanding collection of vehicles spanning from the 1800s to modern electric models and a firm favourite with visitors of all ages.

The Alford Heritage Museum, housed in an A-listed former agricultural auction market, brings together a fascinating collection of objects relating to rural life through the ages. A short walk through Murray Park or Houghton Country Park offers a peaceful contrast, and the Alford Ski Centre provides year-round skiing and snowboarding on its dry slope, regardless of the season.

Just south of the town, Craigievar Castle is one of the finest examples of Scottish baronial architecture anywhere in the country, its distinctive pink-harled walls and storybook turrets rising dramatically from the surrounding parkland. Alford Golf Club offers a scenic round in the heart of the valley and Acorn Bothy provides characterful self-catering accommodation nearby.

Explore Alford

Huntly

Huntly sits at the meeting point of the Rivers Deveron and Bogie, a handsome market town with deep roots in Scottish history and a strong claim to a place on the Speyside Whisky Trail. Huntly Castle, once home to the powerful Gordon family, is the town's centrepiece, a striking ruin on the riverbank renowned for its fine heraldic sculpture and ornately inscribed stonework above the main door.

A few miles south, Leith Hall offers a more peaceful retreat, a stately home set within beautiful gardens and woodland that has been home to the same family for over three centuries. For whisky lovers, GlenDronach Distillery is one of Scotland's most celebrated single malt producers, known for rich, sherry-cask matured whiskies and a warm traditional distillery experience.

Families will find plenty to enjoy at Huntly Falconry Centre, home to a range of birds of prey and offering hands-on displays that regularly delight visitors of all ages. For local treats, Rizza's of Huntly ice cream and Dean's of Huntly shortbread are both well worth seeking out. Walking and cycling routes line the riverbanks and surrounding countryside, and the Huntly Nordic and Outdoor Centre offers year-round Nordic skiing, one of the few facilities of its kind in the UK.

Explore Huntly

Strathdon

Set amid rolling hills on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park, Strathdon is a place of deep Highland tradition and strong community spirit. The Lonach Highland Gathering and Games, held each summer, is one of Scotland's most iconic cultural events, beginning with a march of the Lonach Highlanders and continuing with highland dancing, caber tossing, and a full programme of traditional sports.

Corgarff Castle, a remote and atmospheric tower house with a long and turbulent history, sits a short distance from the village and is one of the most distinctive castle visits in the region. Lecht 2090 draws skiers and snowboarders in winter and mountain bikers and walkers in summer, making it a genuine year-round destination on the edge of the Cairngorms.

The surrounding glens are excellent for wildlife, with red deer and golden eagles regularly spotted by those willing to take their time.

Explore Strathdon

Walking and outdoor adventure

This part of Aberdeenshire offers some of the finest outdoor adventure in the North-east. The River Deveron runs through Huntly and on towards the coast, a renowned salmon fishing river with pleasant riverside paths through Clashindarroch Forest and beyond. The hills above Strathdon and the Lecht offer genuine wilderness walking on the doorstep of the Cairngorms, while gentler routes through Houghton Country Park near Alford suit those looking for a more relaxed outing.

For cycling, the quiet roads and forest tracks throughout the region make for excellent exploring, and the Lecht 2090 centre provides mountain biking trails alongside its winter sports facilities.

Explore the great outdoors

Stay

Accommodation across the region ranges from comfortable town hotels to characterful rural retreats. Aswanley near Huntly combines holiday cottages with field sports in a beautiful Deveron valley setting, while Acorn Bothy near Alford offers a cosy self-catering base for exploring the wider area.

Kildrummy Inn is a standout choice near Alford, a multi-award-winning inn that took home top honours at the Scottish Thistle Awards, with comfortable rooms and an excellent restaurant built around local produce. For something a little different, Boutique Farm Bothies offers stylish, off-grid style accommodation set within working farmland, and Candacraig provides a beautifully restored Highland estate setting for those seeking a more luxurious countryside escape.

Browse all accommodation

News From Upper Donside to Huntly

Discover the unique places of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and the experiences they offer. Every place has its own story, atmosphere and charm, discover what makes each one special.