Autumn in Aberdeenshire 1
Last autumn (2022) we spent a week in a lovely converted dairy just outside the small village of Oyne in Aberdeenshire. We were impressed with both the location and the quality of the accommodation.
Leith Hall
On our first full day we visited Leith Hall and Huntly.
Leith Hall itself, the oldest parts of which date to around 1650, was closed for the season but we were able to see it from outside and then explore the gardens and grounds. The autumn colours were particularly stunning here.
Huntly
Huntly is an attractive market town where, you will not be surprised to know, my attention was drawn to the library, originally funded by a local benefactor.
Our main objective, however, was the castle. First we passed through the impressive entrance to the Gordon Schools, founded by Elizabeth Brodie, the Duchess of Gordon, in 1839 to honour her husband, George Gordon, the 5th and last Duke of Gordon. Busts of each look down from inside its archway.
On the other side of this arch is a tree-lined avenue leading to the Huntly Castle ruins. Follow the link if you want to know more about its history, or just enjoy the galleries!
These fireplaces were installed c1630 for the first Marchioness, Henrietta Stewart.
Her husband, George Gordon, was so excited to be elevated from Earl to Marquis in 1599 that he added a triumphant inscription to the front of the castle.
We had a wonderful volunteer guide at Huntly Castle whose name I have sadly forgotten, but we learned so much more than I have time to tell you here. It’s well worth a visit.
Elgin
The following day, we left Aberdeenshire for Elgin in Moray to spend the day with my friend Elaine, who turned out to be an excellent tour guide. There was a lot to see!
The Bin forest trail
Another day, we looked for some forest walks – so many were still closed because of the previous winter’s storm damage. We ended up at The Bin but not before we had sampled the delicious wares of the Old Post Office Tearoom at Chapel of Garioch.
The Bin (named for the hill at its heart) has some very old trees, but we seem to have been more occupied spotting fungi than trees! And there were splendid views of the Huntly countryside.
That will do to be going on with! Coming in Part 2, our local mountain, an old churchyard (of course) and a lighthouse museum.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
Some beautiful places. I like autumn to take nature photos. The colours of the trees are amazing and you have some great photos.
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Thanks, Melodie. Nice to look back on in the current deluge!
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Thanks for sharing this trip with us! I do love cathedral/church ruins. What wonderful places to visit 🙂
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Me too! And they really were.
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What a great trip and just loving the photos! So much history.
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Thanks Birgit!
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I loved the garden photos of Leith Hall!
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Such beautiful colours!
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Anabel, I like the apron, and he has such a big smile 🙂 It’s a fabulous roadtrip, and your Huntly is way more interesting than ours here in NZ.
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Thanks Suzanne – I know nothing of your Huntly so couldn’t possibly comment!
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntly,_New_Zealand
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Looks a lot more industrial! I like the bridge.
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It is very much industrial and surrounded by the countryside. As with many small towns, social problems are more visible.
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Autumn colours are so pretty. And isn’t it great when your accommodation is perfect.
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We seem to be good at making accommodation choices!
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We find a bit of research helps.
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Absolutely gorgeous photos and great castle, Annabel. I love gallavanting with you across time and space!
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Thanks, good to hear it!
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Autumn looks great in Scotland!
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Often it is though tonight we are listening to it “blowin‘ a hoolie”!
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The bright red tree (maple) is stunning! All your photos are so rich that I feel like I’m standing with you admiring all these gorgeous scenes. Now, the converted dairy did look like very comfortable accommodations, but those big empty white walls scream for some color or artwork!
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Yes, I agree – there were some pictures, on a dairy theme, but they don’t appear in the photographs. Perhaps the owner prefers the minimalist look.
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One part of Scotland I’ve not visited much. Looks good.
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No, me neither. Definitely worth revisiting.
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You’re just about managing to stay a year behind, Anabel. Those Autumn colours look lovely and the ruins of Huntly too. Scotland doesn’t do you too badly, does it?
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It’s not too shabby, I agree! And if I’m going to be a year behind I might as well stay in sync with the seasons.
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Definitely 🤗🍁🍂🩵
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It has taken a long time for the damage from that storm to be cleared up. We still have lots of evidence of it.
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We keep coming across it too in various parts of the country.
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What a lovely week you had!
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We sure did!
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😊😊👍
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It has been many, many years since I was in that part of Scotland. Great pictures.
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Thanks. It’s not one we are terribly familiar with either. That should change!
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I’m not sure that pinny really suits John 😂
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We would not have chosen a Union Jack for sure! The slippers were regulation issue too, provided by the owner.
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Neither would I. Nor the slippers 😂
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Gallivanting again! Elgin – among all the rest of the great things you saw, definitely looks worth a visit.
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Well, gallivanting retrospectively in this case! I really must make an effort to catch up with myself.
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It’s fine! Catch up when you can. We’ll enjoy it whenever it comes!
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Gallivanting in time as well as space, perhaps 😉
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Here’s one I prepared earlier.
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It all looks wonderful. The trees at Leith Hall are quite something.
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I loved those colours!
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I especially like that castle.
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One of the best I’ve been to.
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These look like nice towns. And I like the looks of the fungi too.
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It’s a lovely part of the country, and one I don’t know well enough.
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Your accommodation and its location look lovely. The autumn colours at Leith Hall are gorgeous, the Old Post Office tea room looks cute and I love the view from The Bin 🙂
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Thanks Eunice, it was a lovely week.
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It’s apt that you have posted this now, as it’s definitely becoming more autumnal. 😊
Your dairy cottage looks great and I love John’s cooking attire.
😊
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Well if I’m going to be a year behind I might as well keep my posts seasonal! That was the only cottage I can remember being provided with an apron. I really should remember to take one with us.
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