A lot of visitors are attracted to the North-East of Scotland because of the long, sandy beaches which are amongst the best in the country. When the weather occasionally permits, they are superb and you can even see dolphins a few hundred metres out from the shore if you are lucky. But take a trip inland, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the scenery and historic attractions which await you. The Castle Frase and its gardens are one such attraction.

This is one of the grandest Castles of Mar, which are a group of famous and spectacular castles situated in this area. The building itself was built towards the end of the 16th century but was not finished until 1636.

It has an interesting and extensive history. The famous Fraser clan lived here right from when it was built until the early part of last century. The Frasers were an influencial family from the North-East. Simon Fraser was an important figure in the Scottish War of Independance against England and was an avid supporter of William Wallace (Yes, from the film Braveheart). He was also captured by the English and killed in much the same manner to Wallace.

Perhaps the most interesting piece of history from the castle is that a princess was murdered here towards the end of the Frasers inhabitance. It is rumoured that she still haunts the place, and the ghost story in the castle may leave you a little jumpy!

The building itself has a huge attractive hall, with fine antique furniture and some lovely paintings. You can even see a traditional 'Lairds Lug' which literally translates to 'Lords ear'. i will leave you in suspense on that one.

The castle is situated near to the River Don, 16 miles West of Aberdeen, in the Grampian hills. The scenery is magnificant and this is Scotland at its very best. The grounds are extensive, and there are numerous, worthwhile woodland walks which take in most of the impressive grounds and worth taking some
time over.

There is a glorious walled garden which is well-kept and an absolute must for gardening enthusiasts. You can also brouse the garden shop which sells a number of attractive plants. For the kids, there is an adventure playground which can keep them amused for hours!

Once you get tired of exploring the castle and/or the grounds, you can relax in the tearoom, which sells a good selection of hot and cold drinks, as well as cakes and other tasty snacks. As you would expect, this is quite expensive. As is the shop, but you can pick up some good souveneirs to remind you of your visit.

If you are ever up in the Aberdeen area, I highly recommend you devote a day to this attraction. It has just the right blend of history, magic, beauty and fun!