Castles of Clan Fraser

Beaufort Castle (Castle Dounie)
Beaufort Castle, formerly known as Castle Dounie, is located near Beauly in Inverness-shire and served as the principal seat of the Chiefs of Clan Fraser of Lovat. The original medieval castle was sacked in 1746 following the Battle of Culloden due to the clan’s support for the Jacobite cause. In the 19th century, the estate was rebuilt as a Scottish Baronial mansion, retaining the Fraser connection. The castle remained in Fraser hands into the 20th century. Though now privately owned, it remains a symbol of the Lovat Frasers’ authority in the Highlands.

Castle Fraser (Muchalls in Mar)
Castle Fraser, near Kemnay in Aberdeenshire, was built between 1575 and 1636 by the Fraser lairds of Muchalls. The five-storey Z-plan tower house features round corner towers, heraldic carvings, and secret staircases. It was the seat of Lord Fraser of Muchalls and one of the largest tower houses in Scotland. The castle stayed in Fraser hands until the 19th century. Now owned by the National Trust for Scotland, it is fully restored and open to the public.

Muchalls Castle
Muchalls Castle, on the Kincardine coast, was originally a 14th-century Fraser stronghold. A later castle was built on the same site in 1627 by the Burnetts of Leys, incorporating the earlier Fraser structure. The castle includes 13th-century foundations, hidden staircases, and Jacobean ceilings. It served as a meeting place for Covenanters in the 17th century. Though later owned by other families, the Fraser connection to its medieval origins remains significant.

Cairnbulg Castle (Philorth Castle)
Cairnbulg Castle, near Fraserburgh, was acquired by the Frasers of Philorth in the late 14th century through marriage. They rebuilt and expanded it in the 16th century but sold it in 1613 due to financial trouble. The ruin was restored in the 20th century and later re-acquired by the Lords Saltoun in 1934. It is now a private Fraser residence. The castle’s dramatic location and restored towers highlight its historic importance.

Kinnaird Head Castle
Kinnaird Head Castle, in Fraserburgh, was constructed in 1570 by the Frasers of Philorth. It later became Scotland’s first lighthouse in 1787, retaining its castle core beneath the lantern. The Wine Tower nearby still features Fraser carvings. The castle symbolizes the Fraser legacy in the northeast and their role in developing Fraserburgh. It now houses the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses.

Neidpath Castle
Neidpath Castle, near Peebles, was originally built by the Lowland Fraser line in the late 12th or early 13th century. Sir Simon Fraser, the patriot knight, held it before his execution in 1306. It passed through his daughter to the Hay family, who extensively remodeled it. The massive keep remains largely intact. Though no longer in Fraser hands, it reflects their early Borders prominence.

Oliver Castle
Oliver Castle, in Tweedsmuir, was the early seat of the Fraser family in the 12th and 13th centuries. Oliver Fraser and his descendants were sheriffs of Tweeddale and granted lands to Newbattle Abbey. The castle passed out of Fraser hands after Sir Simon Fraser’s death. The site is now a ruin, with only earthworks and foundations remaining. It marks the Fraser origin in southern Scotland.

Moniack Castle
Moniack Castle, west of Inverness, was built by the Lovat Frasers in the late 16th century. It remains one of the only Fraser castles still continuously owned by the family. The small tower house features classic crow-stepped gables and defensive turrets. It is currently home to the Moniack Frasers and also houses a winery. Its survival reflects clan continuity in the Beauly area.

Castles Loosely Associated with Clan Fraser

Inverness Castle
Inverness Castle was not owned by the Frasers but was garrisoned by them on multiple occasions. In 1429, Fraser forces helped repel a siege by the Lord of the Isles. In 1715, Simon Fraser of Lovat forced the Jacobite garrison to surrender the castle. The site has since been rebuilt and now serves as a courthouse. It remains a key site in Fraser military history.

Castle Grant (Freuchie Castle)
Castle Grant was the seat of Clan Grant but became linked to Clan Fraser through the 1717 marriage of Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat, to Margaret Grant. The alliance helped rebuild Fraser power after forfeiture. Though never owned by the Frasers, it was politically significant. The current castle is a Georgian mansion surrounded by forests. It symbolized Highland unity during the Jacobite era.

Kilravock Castle
Kilravock Castle, seat of Clan Rose, was closely allied to Clan Fraser. Multiple marriages connected the Roses and Frasers, and the families shared a long-standing bond. Kilravock was also a diplomatic safe haven during clan conflicts. Its 15th-century tower and Renaissance additions remain well-preserved. Though not Fraser-owned, it played an important role in Fraser social and political life.

Invergarry Castle
Invergarry Castle, stronghold of the MacDonells of Glengarry, was at the center of feuds with the Frasers. In the early 1600s, Frasers helped defeat the MacDonells at Morar, leading to Invergarry’s construction as a replacement for Strome Castle. The Frasers later clashed with Glengarry again during the Jacobite risings. Though a MacDonell seat, its origins are tied to a Fraser-backed campaign. The ruined tower still stands on Loch Oich.

References

Coventry, M. (2010). The Castles of Scotland (5th ed.). Musselburgh: Goblinshead.
Tabraham, C. (2005). Scotland’s Castles. London: Batsford.
Historic Environment Scotland. (n.d.). Castle Records and Listings.
RCAHMS. (n.d.). National Monuments Record of Scotland.
Fraser, W. (1876). The Chiefs of the Frasers of Lovat. Edinburgh: Privately Printed.
National Trust for Scotland. (n.d.). Castle Fraser Estate and Archives.