Alton Brae Trail(opens the full route on the National Trust site)
2.4 km distance50m to walkmoderate
Dog friendly
Starts and ends at Castle Fraser car park; 1 1/2 miles (2.4km), 50 minutes, moderate, 44m ascent; parking 5 pounds, free for members.
About
Castle Fraser is one of the largest tower houses in Scotland, begun around 1450 and finished in 1636 for the Fraser lairds, a Z-plan tower house near Kemnay. Rooms are self-guided, with the Sounds of Fraser adding voices, and the oddities are the fun: the Laird's Lug, a listening hole above the great hall, hidden trapdoors, secret stairs and a spy hole, plus family portraits including a Raeburn. Climb the round tower for the view over the estate. The walled garden grows specimen trees, herbaceous borders and the fruit and vegetables served in the refurbished courtyard tearoom, and the grounds have waymarked walks and a children's play area, all cared for by the National Trust for Scotland. Reviewers praise the room guides and the tower-top view and say the woodland walks suit dogs and prams. Tips from visitors: ignore the sat nav for the last two miles and follow the brown signs to the only car park, and the tower stairs are steep.
Check today’s timesSee all times
- Castle, tearoom and shopFri – Tue, 10:30 – 16:30last entry 15:30
- Garden10:00 – 16:00
- GroundsDawn – dusk
Opening times may change at short notice.
Castle open Friday to Tuesday until 25 October, then Saturday to Tuesday 10:30 to 16:00 until 21 December; closed 22 December to 2 January, then weekends by guided tour until 28 February 2027. Garden open daily all year.
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