Huntly Castle, Scotland

Located on the edge of the town of Huntly near the River Deveron, this ruin is well preserved, featuring carved fireplaces and detailed heraldry.

The ruin of the noble Gordon family residence. Its splendor declared wealth and power in its day. Royalty visited here, I expect to enjoy the lavish surroundings and sumptuous table.

Ruins are kind of like archeological sites; keeping your eyes open for details gives you clues to how the original edifice looked and functioned. A handy information plaque helps too.

The staff at the gift shop were friendly and happy to answer any of our questions.

As you might guess by the autumn foliage, we visited Huntly Castle in the chilly late fall. Exploring around the castle afforded us some lovely views of the peaceful, park-like setting.

A view of the shady side of the castle from a window opening. Yes, that is a dusting of snow. We learned in Scotland to wear layers and keep moving when sightseeing outdoors in the fall. It's the best way to keep warm and stay chipper.