Huntly Castle ranked as my number one family site to visit as part of my heritage travel trip to…read moreScotland in July 2019 and it did not disappoint. The castle, now of the Gordon Clan same as my Grandma Rosemary Gordon who died in February 2023, is located inland from the Eastern coast of Scotland in the town of Huntly. I arrived at the castle a little before 4:00 p.m. on Monday 8 July 2019 and spent over an hour exploring. Parking was available in a lot past the building where I paid the entrance fee and bought a copy of the official souvenir guide to the castle. The castle is part of the Historic Scotland network of sites. Since Huntly Castle was the only site in the network on my list for my trip I opted for the just-Huntly Castle fee, a Historic Scotland pass was also available for purchase here. The entrance fee goes towards the preservation of the castle and lands. Per the informational placards on the grounds of the castle (Tower House placard specifically), the first stone castle at this site was built in the early 1500s by the Gordon Clan, of which foundations remain intact. Each of the areas of the castle came with informational placards providing background about the utility of the room in the past and how it wove into a broader Scotland context. Navigating through the premises was straightforward and the different rooms and hallways did not get clogged even when there were more visitors in a given area. The weather on my visit was clear and sunny, which made exploring the outdoor parts less cumbersome than if it had been rainy. All around thoroughly enjoyed my experience.

We visited here on a grey and a bit rainy day. Not many visitors on that day. Surprising, because…read morethis is a wonderful castle to visit. The earls of Fife built the original castle, the Peel of Strathbogie, around 1190, to guard the crossing-point where the rivers Bogie and Deveron meet. It became a stronghold in the 1300s. The stately palace, begun about 1450 by the newly ennobled Earl of Huntly, is one of Scotland's most impressive late medieval buildings. A lot of the castle is still standing today. In the back of the castle there is a lot more to explore (like the old kitchens). A lot of rooms to visit and lots of ruins to see. A very exciting place to explore and lots to learn about its history. A lot of information is provided everywhere. We did stay here a lot longer than expected. You also can climb up to a certain point. And don't miss out on the prison (and its two mannequin-prisoners that look quite life-like from a distance). Staff in the visitors centre was friendly and helpful. Some good souvenirs can be found here as well. And our Bulldog was also welcome on the grounds. Parking was right next to the castle - for visitors only of course. Since we are members, the entrance was free. A fantastic visit. Surely not to be missed and worth a (longer) drive. Highly recommended!

Came on an amazing clear day to this spectacular castle ruin. Yes, it's windy with lots of stairs…read morebut worth the visit. A truly beautiful setting with many intact ruins to explore. Great visit!!

Some things are just better seen in person…read more This place was a real treat. For people who aren't in the best of shape like I was, just know that yes there is a lot of steps. But if you are fan of things Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Elden Ring, Dark Souls, etc. just know the hike is worth it. I'm more of an Elden Ring fan myself more than anything so the fact that we were here when we had overcast weather definitely added to the experience. There's descriptions in particular rooms that tell you what the room was originally used for. So it's nice reading those and taking a minute to close your eyes after taking a picture of the room and just imagining the hustle and bustle happening in these walls. There is a parking lot to park but it does look somewhat limited. We got here right when it opened to avoid any issues with that so just keep that in mind. If you need a snack beforehand there is also a food truck right before you make the small trek to the stairs. You can't however eat once inside I believe. But man, I had the biggest grin when I was munching on my fries and slowly hiking up to this castle. Dunnottar Castle for any trip imo.

Adventured to the Gordon Highlanders Museum on foot on Sunday 7 July 2019. I had seen different…read moreopen hours online on different websites, so I decided to walk here and check out if it was open. Approaching walking down the street, I noticed a gate rolled across the driving entrance. Thinking this meant the museum was closed, but wanting to make sure as it was my first time to the museum, I walked down to the street below to see if there was another entrance. On the street below is a walking entrance to the museum grounds with a nature/sitting area. There was not a gate/barricade in place, so I walked up to the museum building. The parking lot was a good size and spots were well marked. The entrance had a sign posted with hours and entrance fees. Turned out the museum was closed both Sunday and Monday, so as I was leaving Aberdeen and heading north on Monday 8 July, I missed the inside of the museum on my July 2019 Scotland heritage travel trip. The grounds were beautiful, well-maintained, and informative on their own.

Wonderfully put together place with plenty of interactive bits for children. We took a tour of the…read moreWWI trench and the tour guide, John, was both informative & enthusiastic - really enjoyed! We also had a lunch at the cafe where they have a selection of sandwiches & soup. Food was tasty and service was friendly. Highly recommend for families, lovers of history & visitors to Aberdeen!

A fun and free way to learn a little more about Aberdeen's maritime history…read more This museum has some cool interactive stuff, to help pull in any age, and the displays are well kept and visually appealing, which makes you want to see and learn more. I didn't spend too much time reading every single word written, but I skimmed most things and lingered longer over the things that caught my eye. It's not a huge museum, so if you're a history buff, you might like to read more and spend a bit longer. Overall, it's a nice little gem tucked off to the side behind Vue cinema, and it's definitely worth checking out if you've got a hankering for understanding the city of Aberdeen a bit better or are looking for a few things to do to avoid a rainy afternoon but still get out of the house. I'd visit again if I had folks with me who were visiting Aberdeen!

Good place to take children. For me, the view of the harbour, looking out of the window, from…read moreinside, was the most impressive. Massive boats from Scandinavia and all over the world. Some good displays in particular one oil painting of a ship battling huge waves, dark and foreboding clouds, stood out. It was ok. Does not even come close in comparison to Scott's Discovery vessel.

A hidden gem with a wealth of information in both exhibitions and the dedicated staff who are very…read moreknowledgable on the local area. Given the massive cuts to museums this year it's amazing that this one has managed to be updated with a fresh image and interesting items on display We'll always be greatful to the young male attendant who helped us identify a family heirloom - its refreshing to see young faces in our museums!

We have lived for years in Aberdeen and this has been the first time we visited the Aberdeen Art…read moreGallery. The building is lovely inside with a nice shop and a couple of decent cafes. We went solely for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition on the second floor. Hence, no observations on the art work, other than that the special exhibition was excellent.

Aberdeen Art Gallery is especially strong for 20th Century British, with interesting pictures by…read moreSpencer, Eardley and the Scottish Colourists. There are a number of decent Victorian paintings and a good clutch of French Impressionists including work by Bonnard, Renoir and Tolouse-Lautrec. There is a good collection of drawings on display too, and some exquisite glassware. The building is beautiful and offers access to the handsome Cowdray Hall, and war memorial.