Castle Fraser was the first castle we visited after moving here. Yet, it took ten months before we finally ventured inside – and another six before I brought my camera to capture its interiors. Oh, well, we made it at last.

The tour of this castle is self-guided, with very friendly staff waiting in most rooms to answer your questions. This gives a perfect opportunity to wander through the halls and rooms, imagining what life might have been like between these walls. After two visits, I think living in Castle Fraser wouldn’t be too bad.

While the narrow staircases make moving around somewhat inconvenient, and certain rooms — I’m looking at you, porcelain doll displays — hopefully served different purposes when the castle was still inhabited, the grounds are my absolute favourite among all the castles I’ve visited so far. There’s an area that reminds me of the park near my old house, a walled garden full of beautiful flowers and homegrown vegetables, and the castle is surrounded by expansive fields and forests – which I have yet to explore.

In the courtyard, you’ll find a lovely tearoom with a wonderful selection of cakes and sandwiches. But make sure to check their opening times before your visit because I’ve found myself a few times in front of a locked door.