My favourite Scottish castle turret

My favourite turret on Castle Fraser

When you have seen as many Scottish castles as I have you begin to search for something that is a bit unique, something that makes each individual castle standout from the crowd. With Castle Fraser, in Abderdeenshire, it is this turret that I will always remember. It is perhaps my most favourite castle turret.

What is so great about this turret, I hear you ask?

Well, just look at the top of it. There are two layers of tiny little windows that go all the way around the circumference. I haven't seen that before on a turret. Normally you just have the single windows at regular intervals from top to bottom. That collection of small windows at the top is what makes this turret unique and why it is my favourite in Scotland. 

This turret is also clamped on to the side of a much larger turret. It looks to me like a parent turret with a little baby clamped onto its back.

Inside there is a staircase and when you reach the top of the staircase there is plenty of light flooding in from that profusion of miniature windows.

The top of the turret, providing access to the roof terrace

Opening that white door takes you onto the rooftop terrace of the larger turret. Not all Scottish castles have visitor  access to the roof, so reaching the top is a moment to cherish.

On the rooftop terrace of Castle Fraser

From up here there is the scent of wood smoke from the fire burning in the Great Hall far below. You can look over the castle courtyard and out towards the tree-lined avenue.

The view from the rooftop terrace over the courtyard of Castle Fraser

In the other direction you can see some gentle hills with a crown of trees.

I should also point out that the turret has a brass rooster weather vain. Yet another reason why this is my favourite Scottish castle turret.

Weather vain on the turret of Castle Fraser

Castle Fraser was completed in 1636 as the home of the Fraser family and is filled with their portraits, fine furniture and other treasures. Now a National Trust property you can visit the interiors and gardens. From Inverurie train station it is about an 8 or 9 mile cycle to get there.