Castle Fraser, Garden & Estate
As we move out of the coronavirus lockdown, we’re pleased to be able to welcome back visitors to our outdoor spaces. Some of our buildings (historic buildings, visitor facilities, cafés and shops) remain closed. The toilet facilities at Castle Fraser are closed. We urge people to follow Scottish government advice to carefully observe social distancing.
Planning your visit
We want you to enjoy your visit to the grounds – your safety is our priority. This means we’ve had to make some changes so that we can keep everyone safe. Please read our Guide on what to expect before you set off.
Please see our drop-down Facilities below for helpful information about planning your visit.
For more information about planning your visit, please see our frequently asked questions.
If you’d like to speak to us, we can be contacted by email on castlefraser@nts.org.uk or telephone 01330 833463.
Facilities & access
We have an ongoing programme of accessible content development. Detailed accessibility guides for the most visited Trust places are available on our Accessibility pages as well as links to useful resources.
We’d love you to visit the Euan’s Guide website to review the accessibility of Trust places and tell us (and others) what’s good and where we need to do better.
Disabled parking is available near the front of the castle.
Coach parking is available 300m from the property.
Dogs are welcome in the grounds, but we ask that dogs are kept on the lead near the children’s play area and in the courtyard.
Car parking is available and is free for members.
The castle is open for self-guided tours on Sundays until the end of October.
From the striking simplicity of the medieval Great Hall to the well-stocked library and Victorian bedrooms, a self-guided tour of the castle gives a sense of walking through history. Each laird stamped his personality on the family seat, from the various ways of spying on those in the Great Hall to trophies gathered on global adventures.
The panoramic views from the top of the round tower are spectacular, revealing the courtyard, gardens and estate beyond, ready to be explored. The distinctive peaks of Bennachie can be seen in the distance.
There are two waymarked walks on the estate that offer magnificent views of the local area.
Miss Bristow’s Wood trail passes through a designed woodland, full of winding paths, pleasant glades and distant views.
The Alton Brae trail will take you past the Broad Walk of sycamores, through coniferous woodland and beside the Flight Pond, where you can spot brightly coloured dragonflies.
- There is limited access to the castle courtyard due to gravel. However, wheelchair access to the ground floor of the castle and our tearoom can be provided via the front door by contacting 01330 833463.
- There’s a digital screen in the reception area where visitors can look at the upper-floor rooms in more detail.
- The scented walled garden and adventure playground are accessible for wheelchairs.
Opening times
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Castle
Guided tours are subject to availability and we recommend pre-booking to avoid disappointment.
- Current period20 Mar–5 Feb 2021, closed
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Garden
- 20 Mar–5 Jul, closed Current period6 Jul–31 Dec, daily, 10.00–16.00
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Grounds
- 20 Mar–5 Jul, closed Current period6 Jul–31 Dec, daily, dawn–dusk
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Shop
- Current period20 Mar–5 Feb 2021, closed
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Tearoom
- Current period20 Mar–5 Feb 2021, closed
Entry prices
- Adult
- £14.50
- Concession
- £11.00
- Family
- £33.00
- One adult family
- £27.50
- Young Scot
- £1.00