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Huntly

Ten miles east of Dufftown is the pleasant and prosperous-looking little town of Huntly. Close to the Whisky Trail and on the main Aberdeen to Inverness train route, it's a great base from which to explore Speyside.

The Tourist Information Centre is on the main square, Tel. 792255. It's open April-October daily 1000-1700; July-August till 1900.

The town also boasts a lovely little castle all of its own. The 16th-century Huntly Castle stands in a beautiful setting on the banks of the River Deveron, on the northern edge of town. It was built by the powerful Gordon family and is notable for its fine heraldic sculpture and inscribed stone friezes, particularly over the main door. Apr-Sep daily 0930-1830; Oct-Mar Sat-Wed 0930-1630, £3.30, £2.50 concession, children £1.30. Tel. 793191 (HS).

Near the castle is the Nordic Ski Centre, Tel. 794428, the only year-round cross-country ski centre in the UK. The centre also hires out ski equipment and mountain bikes.

Seven miles south of town, near the village of Kennethmont, is Leith Hall, an unprepossessing mid-17th-century mansion house. The house contains the personal possessions of successive Leith lairds, most of whom saw military service overseas, but more interesting are the extensive grounds which include a six-acre garden, 18th-century stables and ice house, two ponds, a bird observation hide and countryside walks. Easter and May-Sep daily 1200-1700; weekends in Oct 1330-1730. Garden and grounds open all year daily 0930-dusk. Tel. 01464-831594 (NTS).

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Activities

Huntly Hotels & Accommodation

There's a decent selection of accommodation in and around Huntly. The most impressive place to stay is The Castle Hotel, Tel. 792696, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The former home of the Duke of Gordon, it's approached through the castle entrance and then over the river.

There are several good B&Bs in town, including Greenmount Guesthouse, 43 Gordon St, Tel. 792482; Mrs Alden, 10 Church St, Tel. 792324; and Strathlene, on MacDonald St, Tel. 792664. The hotels in town serve bar food, as does the Auld Pit, which is a good pub.

Another good pub, especially for real ale, is the Borve Brew House, in Ruthven, a few miles off the A96 to Keith.