Castle Fraser

Castle Fraser is undoubtedly one of the most striking of Scottish castles in Aberdeenshire. Originally a plain square tower with a courtyard, and possibly dating to the late 14th century, it was extended to form a larger tower house in the 16th century by the addition of the main hall block and round tower, and then extravagantly remodelled between 1592 and 1618. Further extensions around the old courtyard were added later in the 17th century to form the castle as it stands today.

Originally forming part of the Earldom of Mar, the lands of Muchall and Stoneywood were combined and granted to Thomas Fraser as a Barony, the castle bearing the name of Muchall-in-Mar until the 18th century. The Fraser Barons reached the peak of their fortunes at the time of the reworking of the castle, when Andrew Fraser was made the first Lord Fraser, but declined during the Covenanting period. The Frasers were supporters of the Covenant and Presbyterianism, and Muchall castle was attacked by the Catholic Gordons before being sacked by the Marquis of Montrose in 1644.

Rising levels of family debt led to the sale of the estate and castle to the Earl of Mar, although the Frasers remained as tenants of the castle. Charles, 4th Lord Fraser rose with the Earl of Mar in 1715 in the first Jacobite rebellion, falling over a cliff at Pennan when on the run after the failure of the Rising. Castle Fraser remained the home of members of the Fraser family until 1897, and was sold in 1921 to Viscount Cowdray, whose family began to renovate the building. It was sold in 1976 to the National Trust for Scotland, who maintain the castle and a substantial amount of the grounds today.

The National Trust forbids anyone to benefit financially from their property without prohibitive costs.

Official National Trust for Scotland page

HES Canmore database entry