Castle Fraser, Garden & Estate NTS

20/10/2026

🍂Sneak peak of one of the new characters on the Halloween Trail this year!

🎃The trail is running on the 23rd, 24th, 25th and 31st October. We still have our classic daytime trail as well as the new evening trail. See the link in the comments for tickets ⬇

🎃

17/10/2026

🤫Shh don't wake the dragon!

🎃 Preparations are underway for the Family Halloween Trail at Castle Fraser, here's a sneak peak of the evening trail! Too spooky? Don't worry, our classic daytime trail is still running as well.

🧟Tickets are selling fast, we recommend pre-booking to avoid disappointment, links in the comments ⬇.

14/10/2026

It’s been a long weigh to the top for our gardeners at Castle Fraser… 🎃

8 months of sowing, planting, growing and harvesting for our pumpkin to tip the scales at 12.6kg!

But will it be enough for us to squash the competition and win the Trust’s Pumpkin Weigh-Off? 👀

It’s pumpkin vs pumpkin at the National Trust for Scotland, as ten garden teams across the country compete for the heaviest pumpkin.

National Trust for Scotland is revealing who’s grown the biggest next week, so tune in for the great gourd-off! 🏆

09/10/2026

🎃Feeling brave and looking for a spookier Halloween trail this year?

🐈‍⬛We have a brand new evening trail running on the 23rd, 24th and 31st October.

🔦Don't forget your torch on this spookier, in the dark trail round the castle's gardens and grounds.

🧟‍♂️There won't be any jump scares but it will be exceptionally dark, we are recommending this trail for ages 6+
🪄Tickets are selling fast, we strongly advise booking to avoid disappointment! Link in the comments ⬇

07/10/2026

⚠ On Saturday 10th October the castle's last admission will be at the earlier time of 2pm due to a private function. ⚠

The tearoom, shop and walled garden will still be open until their usual time.

21/09/2026

🏆 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀!

Castle Fraser was honoured with the 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for the Birks Pond project, led by our North East Ranger Service. We were also delighted to be a finalist for 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Birks Pond is a new wetland habitat created to support dragonflies and damselflies, including the rare northern damselfly, while also reflecting the history of Castle Fraser’s designed landscape. The project is part of the National Trust for Scotland’s work to protect Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage and find new ways for people to connect with nature.

🌿 𝗔 𝘄𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: Birks Pond isn’t open to the public just yet. It needs time to bed in and allow wildlife to establish, so please 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮. In the meantime, the Flight Pond and trails are the best places to look out for some brilliant wildlife year-round.

The Climate Action Award also means we’ll be heading to Glasgow for the Scottish Thistle Awards in November. Wish us luck!

👉 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁:
https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/new-home-for-flying-jewels-in-aberdeenshire

19/09/2026

🏰 We're happy to report that the castle, tearoom & shop are all back open as normal following the roof repairs!
🍂A big thank you to everyone for their patience. We're open Friday to Tuesday 10.30am with last admission at 3.30pm for September and October.

18/09/2026

👨🏼‍🌾 Garioch Heritage Centre will be hosting a Gardeners' Question Time with a panel of Aberdeenshire NTS gardeners. Please see the post below for more info if you'd like to attend!

🌿 Gardeners’ Question Time 🌿

Ever wonder how the NTS manage to get their gardens so perfect? Come along to this event organised by North East Aberdeenshire Members’ Centre - supporting the NTS and find out from the experts.

Gordon Thomson, Head Gardener at Fyvie Castle, will be our Master of Ceremonies with a panel of gardeners from Aberdeenshire NTS properties ready to answer all your gardening questions and give horticultural advice.

📍 Garioch Heritage Centre
📅 Thursday 8th October 2026
⏰ 7:00pm - 9:00pm

🎟️ Tickets essential, available on Eventbrite 👉 https://brnw.ch/21x5J6l

17/09/2026

⚽ Craigievar Castle NTS has been chosen as the inspiration for the new 2026-27 Aberdeen Football Club strip! Find out more on their page below.

15/09/2026

🎓 Our colleagues at Drum Castle are looking for Primary Teacher applicants for their 2027 Timesliders programme.