Explore the surroundings of Huntly, passing the ancient castle, and walking along the riverbank before returning to the attractive town centre.
Roads with pavements, narrow riverside path which can be muddy.
Huntly is served by regular buses and trains.
Huntly town square.
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Start from the Square in the centre of Huntly where there is pay and display parking (there is a free car park near the Castle where the walk can be joined and for alternative parking if there is a market in the Square). Follow Castle Street out of the north end of The Square, passing the Huntly Hotel and then the public toilets on the left. Go straight across at the next junction and follow The Avenue past the war memorial.
Pass through the gateway of the impressive original Gordon Schools building. Also known as the Simpson Building, it built for the town by the Duchess of Gordon gatehouse and at first housed four different schools in its four rooms. Follow the avenue of trees ahead, passing the Golf Course on the right and then playing fields with children's play area and parking. Huntly Castle can be seen ahead with the car park on the left under the trees.
Built as the seat of the Huntly Clan for five centuries, the castle is renowned for its impressive heraldic sculpture and inscribed stone friezes. The first castle to be built on the site gave refuge to Robert the Bruce in the 14th century. After 1800 the castle fell into ruin and was heavily plundered for stone by local builders. It is now owned by Historic Scotland and is well worth a visit. Follow the road round the left side of the castle and then double back left to cross the stone bridge, following the sign for the Nordic Outdoor Centre.
Bear right to head through the car park, continuing to the far end and taking the path through the riverside park. Continue on the footpath alongside the side of the River Deveron. Pass the Nordic Ski Centre where artificial tracks allow people to practise Nordic or cross-country skiing all year round. At each of several path junctions, always keep following the riverbank, ignoring any larger paths or tracks leading away, keeping close by the water.
The Deveron is one of the top five salmon fishing rivers in Scotland. It is sixty miles long and starts life in the Ladder Hills before joining the River Bogie just below Huntly Castle and eventually flowing into the Moray Firth between the twin towns of Banff and Macduff. Follow the riverside until a road bridge is reached. Climb up the steps to the left and turn left to follow the pavement back towards Huntly.
Just before a cemetery is reached, branch left onto a footpath, signed for Meadows Plantings walk. Keep right at any forks, following the path that stays beside the cemetery wall. At the far corner of the cemetery keep straight ahead on a path that runs along the top of a steep bank.
When the path meets a road, turn briefly right and then left onto a path just before the main road is reached. Follow the path past the mature trees, keeping right at a fork to pass alongside a high wall. Keep straight ahead to reach a road with a red post box in the wall opposite. Turn left here, then right onto West Park Street. Continue along this - passing the attractive Catholic Church of St Margarets - until the outward route is rejoined by the memorial. The square and the start of the walk are just to the right here.
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