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Aberdeen City & Shire

Castle Fraser, Garden & Estate

One of Scotland’s largest tower houses, with an impressive portrait collection

Planning your visit

Please note that there is a small diversion in place on the Alton Brae Trail due to storm damage.


Drone flying is not permitted at this property without prior permission and approval. Commercial operators should contact the Trust’s Filming Manager at filming@nts.org.uk.

On Sunday 4 August, access to the estate by vehicle will only be possible for those attending Aberdeen Performance Car Show. The castle will be extremely busy and will be operating a restricted tour route.

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.

We have created a detailed accessibility guide for Castle Fraser.

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.

There are accessible toilets in the courtyard near the shop and café.

Bike parking is available in the main visitor car park.

Buggy access

Our recently refurbished tearoom offers a new menu that includes produce from our own walled garden.

Children’s activities

Coach parking is available 300m from the property.

Dogs are welcome in the grounds, gardens, shop and tearoom. Dogs must be kept on leads in the Walled Garden and Courtyard and under close control on the wider estate.

Stay for longer at our holiday property in the east wing of the castle:

East Wing (sleeps 4)

Booking a holiday with the National Trust for Scotland helps us to protect this special place, now and for the future.

Car parking is available and is free for members.

Picnics

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.

The shop sells a range of gifts.

The toilets are open at the same time as the castle.

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 is accessible for wheelchairs.

Opening times

Castle, tearoom and shop

The castle operates self-guided tours; pre-booking is not required. | Last orders in the tearoom at 4pm. | On Mon 8 Apr, the tearoom will be open for takeaway only due to a private function (the castle is open as normal).

Current period1 Mar–28 Mar, Fri–Tue, 10.30–16.00 (last entry 15.00) 29 Mar–30 Jun, Fri–Tue, 10.30–16.30 (last entry 15.30) 1 Jul–1 Sep, daily, 10.30–16.30 (last entry 15.30) 2 Sep–13 Oct, Fri–Tue, 10.30–16.30 (last entry 15.30) 14 Oct–27 Oct, daily, 10.30–16.30 (last entry 15.30) 28 Oct–16 Dec, Fri–Mon, 10.30–16.00 (last entry 15.00)
Garden

Current period1 Jan–31 Dec, daily, 10.00–16.00
Grounds

Please note that a diversion is in place on the Alton Brae Trail due to storm damage.

Current period1 Jan–31 Dec, daily, dawn–dusk

Entry prices

Castle Fraser
Adult
£16.00
Concession
£12.50
Family
£36.50
One adult family
£31.50
Young Scot
£1.00

Members go free

At all Trust places, admission is free for members.

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