Huntly Arms Hotel, Charlestown Road, Aboyne

2-storey and attic, irregular-plan coaching inn (now an Hotel) with later additions and alterations. Squared and coursed granite with finely finished dressings. Gableted dormers.

The Huntly Arms Hotel was the principal inn in Aboyne and Glen Tanar Parish, and was described in the NSA as "a very commodious inn, noted for the excellent manner in which it is kept" (p1065).(Historic Environment Scotland List Entry)

23 September 2022: Nominated for the Register by the local planning authority as disused for several years, and of concern to the local community as it is becoming dilapidated and has been the target of vandals. The Council has approached the owner to progress repairs at the site but none have taken place yet. The ground floor windows have been boarded up, and security fencing erected around the associated gazebo, also damaged through vandalism. For Investigation.

26 September 2022: Desk-based assessment using photographs supplied by Aberdeenshire Council from June 2022.
The former hotel remains closed and has ground floor windows boarded over. The complex is broadly formed of three ranges, the northern range being in the poorest condition. Limited assessment possible of the rear elevations and flat roofs.
The western range has a relatively recently replaced roof in fair condition, other ranges are in poorer condition, notably the single storey building to the north which has a number of missing/ slipped slates, and the roof to the verandah. Chimneys appear plumb with a number of cans intact. Rainwater goods are widely in poor condition - rusting, a long missing section to a single storey building, a misaligned/ missing hopper evident to another range. Dampness to walls suggests they are widely defective. Walls appear plumb with some evidence of failing cementious mortar repairs. Vegetation is growing in close proximity to some walls, and beginning to encroach. Timber elements are in need of maintenance where the protective painted finish is failing but most glazings appear intact.

3 February 2023: Local planners report that repair works, as specified within an Amenity Notice (COMP/2022/039) served by Aberdeenshire Council in November 2022, are underway and expected to complete shortly.