Castles · Scottish Highlands
Castle Fraser
Castle Fraser — Z-plan castle in Scotland.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Kintore · 8.0 km
- Paid entry
- Family-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Castle Fraser, the nearest railway station is Kintore, which is 8 km away. Entry is paid, and the site is not wheelchair accessible. The postcode for sat-nav is AB51 7LD.
About
Castle Fraser is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Records date its origin to 1455. Heritage designation: category A listed building. Owned by National Trust for Scotland. Managed by National Trust for Scotland. Wikidata describes it as: "Z-plan castle in Scotland". Coordinates: 57.2030°, -2.4606°.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2019
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
Castle Fraser is a large Z-plan castle near Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is considered one of the most elaborate examples of its type and one of the grandest of the 'Castles of Mar'. The castle stands in over 300 acres (1.2 km2) of landscaped grounds, woodland and farmland, including a 19th-century walled kitchen garden. There is archaeological evidence of an older square tower dating from around 1400 or 1500 within the current construction.
From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.
Summary from the official site
Castle Fraser is one of Scotland's largest tower houses, featuring a rich history dating back to 1450. Visitors can explore its grand hall, unique architectural features, and a vibrant walled garden, while enjoying scenic parkland and wildlife trails.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
Castle Fraser is a large Z-plan castle near Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is considered one of the most elaborate examples of its type and one of the grandest of the 'Castles of Mar'. The castle stands in over 300 acres (1.2 km2) of landscaped grounds, woodland and farmland, including a 19th-century walled kitchen garden. There is archaeological evidence of an older square tower dating from around 1400 or 1500 within the current construction. The castle is a Category A listed building and the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
Architecture
Originally known as Muchall-in-Mar, construction of the elaborate, five-storey Z-plan castle was begun in 1575 by the 6th Laird of Fraser, Michael Fraser, on the basis of an earlier tower, and was completed in 1636. A panel on the northern side of the castle is signed "I Bel", believed to be the mark of the master mason John Bell of Midmar. The castle is a joint creation over several decades with another master mason of this period, Thomas Leiper. Castle Fraser is contemporary with other nearby castles: Craigievar Castle, Crathes Castle and Midmar Castle which are also believed to have been designed by the Bell family of master masons. The castle was modernised in a classical style in the…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 57.2030, -2.4606
- District
- Aberdeenshire
- Postcode
- AB51 7LD
- Parliamentary constituency
- West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
- Established
- 1455
- Nearest railway station
- Kintore — 8 km
- Opening
- Castle, tearoom and shop 10.30–16.30 (last entry 15.30); Garden 10.00–16.00; Grounds Dawn–dusk
- Official site
- www.nts.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q1049410 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Castle Fraser (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Castle Fraser, full view.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
John Bell's Stone, Castle Fraser Policies
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John Bell's Stone
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Miss Bristow's Memorial
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Craigearn
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Castle Fraser?
- Castle Fraser is in the Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom (postcode AB51 7LD).
- What is Castle Fraser?
- Castle Fraser — Z-plan castle in Scotland.
- How do I get to Castle Fraser?
- The nearest railway station is Kintore, about 8.0 km away. Drivers can use postcode AB51 7LD.
- When was Castle Fraser built?
- Built or established in 1455.
- Who runs Castle Fraser?
- Castle Fraser is operated by National Trust for Scotland.
- Is Castle Fraser a listed building?
- Castle Fraser is officially recognised as category A listed building listed.
- Does Castle Fraser charge admission?
- Castle Fraser typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
- How do I get to Castle Fraser?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode AB51 7LD. It sits within the West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine parliamentary constituency.