Castle Fraser
Castle Fraser is one of Scotland's largest tower houses. There are numerous furnished rooms decorated for different time periods. They still have some original furniture dating back to the 1600's.
You can climb the narrow turret stairs all the way to the roof, where there is a large open deck, with amazing views of the surrounding Aberdeenshire countryside and the castle's walled-garden. The trees on the grounds are enormous.
The castle also has some interesting features, such as a secret trap door, secret passages behind the walls, places designed for eavesdropping and small openings to spy on rooms below. The castle's Bailiff, looked after the estate, kept records, paid the workers, and spied on everyone in the Great Hall.
No castle is complete without its own ghosts roaming around. Castle Fraser has at least two. Allegedly, one of them was a visiting princess who was killed in her sleep in the Green Room.
Some rather unique artifacts on display belonged to Charles Mackenzie Fraser. During the siege of Burgos in 1812, he was shot in the head and the leg. He lost his leg. His hat with the bullet hole and one of his wooden legs are still here. He lived to be 79, in 1871! He outlived 12 of his 14 children.
The library contains 2600 books and a large collection of hundreds year old sheet music. There's lots of other family mementos making the castle still feel as if it's a family home.
Smoking Room
Library and Entertainment Room
Top Deck
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More Scottish Sites:
I love Edinburgh's medieval Old Town with it's castle looming over the city. It's such a cool city to explore.
Temple Old Kirk is located in Temple Village outside of Edinburgh. This site was the headquarters of the Order of Knights Templar in Scotland.
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Edinburgh's Royal Military Tattoo is an event worthy of your bucket list. It's a unique performance from military bands across the globe and of course bagpipers!
Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh is a haunted graveyard best known for providing inspiration for Harry Potter characters.
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I loved Ardoe House Hotel & Spa, so much, it felt like I was staying in a castle. It was so fun! It's almost its own attraction, complete with it's own highland coos.
Dunnottar Castle, is a medieval fortress, perched atop a cliff overlooking the North Sea. Although it's now a ruin, it's location makes it highly photogenic.