Castle Fraser - Aberdeenshire - Scotland | 4K

Located near Kemnay in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Castle Fraser is one of the grandest and most elaborate Scottish baronial tower houses in the country. Set within over 300 acres of landscaped grounds, woodland, and farmland, it served as the seat of the Fraser family for over 400 years. History Origins: Construction on the present castle began in 1575 under Michael Fraser, 6th Laird of Fraser, incorporating an earlier core dating to around 1400 or 1500. It took over six decades to complete, finishing in 1636. Centuries of Change: The castle was damaged during the Civil Wars in 1644 after being sacked by Royalist forces. In the late 18th century, "Lady Laird" Elyza Fraser modernized the castle interiors and transformed the surrounding landscape. Twentieth Century: Facing heavy debts, the last direct Fraser family line sold the property in 1921 to Weetman Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray, who restored it as a shooting lodge. In 1976, the Pearson family gifted the castle and estate to the National Trust for Scotland. Architecture Z-Plan Design: Castle Fraser is widely regarded as the ultimate expression of the Z-plan tower house. The core consists of a large central rectangular block anchored by a tall, five-storey round tower at one corner and a square tower at the opposite diagonal corner. Scottish Baronial Style: Built from native Aberdeenshire granite by famous master masons John Bell of Midmar and Thomas Leiper, the upper storeys feature dramatic corbelled turrets, conical roofs, dormers, and carved heraldic panels. Interior Elements: The interior reflects centuries of evolution, ranging from the stone-vaulted medieval Great Hall—complete with a secret spyhole known as the "Laird's Lug"—to a late Regency-style library and Victorian bedrooms. Gardens & Grounds Walled Kitchen Garden: A highlight of the estate is its 18th-century, 1.4-hectare walled garden. Beautifully restored, it contains specimen trees, herbaceous borders, a medicinal plant section, and working fruit and vegetable plots. Estate Landscape: The broader estate features two waymarked woodland trails, an octagonal stable block built in 1795, a standing stone, and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside reaching as far as Bennachie. Current State Today, Castle Fraser is owned, protected, and operated by the National Trust for Scotland as a Category A listed site. It is fully open to the public from spring through autumn as a major landmark on the Aberdeenshire Castle Trail. Visitors can tour the castle rooms, explore the collection of original Fraser portraits and furniture, walk the tower roof, and access the walled gardens, tearoom, and visitor center. To find more information about beautiful Scotland, please visit our website: https://scotlandfarandnear.co.uk/ If you want to see more of Scottish architecture, please follow this link to my dedicated playlist    • Sinclair Castle - East Caithness - Scotlan...   I hope you like what you've seen. If yes, please consider buying us a coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/scotland... 😊. Captured with Pixel 8 Pro in 4K. 🎵 Music Note: Background track created with the help of Suno AI Title: Fraser Keep Creator: ScotlandFarAndNear If you are interested in getting some of the cinematic video clips from my visits to beautiful places in Scotland for your own creations, you can find them on my Shutterstock account: https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Scotla... Castle Fraser - Aberdeenshire - Scotland | 4K