Brodie Castle & Estate NTS

Brodie Castle & Estate NTS Magnificent turreted Castle steeped in family history and collections with a Playful Garden
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06/09/2026

As you walk to work in the morning from the Car Park to the Castle, you very often hear the unmistakable sound of a woodpecker - but we very rarely catch sight of it!

This video is a combination of our trail cam footage - but the other was actually caught by our Ops Manager, Pam, as she was passing by, wasn't she so lucky to see this in person?!

Like we do, you’ll often hear a woodpecker before you spot one – hammering away at up to 20 pecks a second! 😳

Thankfully, they’re specially built for all that head-banging. Their strong beaks help them search for food, communicate and create cosy wee homes in the trees.

Woodpeckers are found almost everywhere in the world except Australia and the polar regions. Here in the UK, keep your eyes peeled for great spotted woodpeckers and green woodpeckers – and your ears open too, because they’re not exactly subtle!

Today is Moray Doors Open Day so why not pop along to have a new experience here at Brodie?We have part of our Laird's W...
05/09/2026

Today is Moray Doors Open Day so why not pop along to have a new experience here at Brodie?

We have part of our Laird's Wing open for you to visit from 11am - 3pm and you can come along and see where Ninian Brodie lived until his passing in 2003.

See our beautiful dining room where we now host wedding celebrations or special events, admire the collection pieces in the drawing room and imagine big family meals in the kitchen.

Head to the Welcome Centre for your free ticket.

*Please note, regular Castle access is not part of the Doors Open Day offer. The Castle will be open on the day as usual for self-guided visits 10.30am – 2pm (last entry 1.30pm) with tours in the afternoon if you wish to upgrade your experience.

Our £5 car park will be in operation unless you are an NTS member. The Playful Garden and cafes will also be open 10am - 4pm as usual

Here is another 'then and now' and this time it is a very simple comparison of our entrance hall. You can see that not ...
04/09/2026

Here is another 'then and now' and this time it is a very simple comparison of our entrance hall.

You can see that not much has changed from the 80s until now, can you spot the differences?

A couple of things we definitely think have not changed is the warm welcome you receive from our fantastic tour guides and the enjoyment we see on faces on the faces of our visitors.

The hallway is part of the original Castle - wonder how many people have stood in that room and what stories the walls hold!

We are delighted to be taking part in Moray Doors Open Day this Saturday, 5th September. And do we have a treat for you....
02/09/2026

We are delighted to be taking part in Moray Doors Open Day this Saturday, 5th September.

And do we have a treat for you...

You will get to enjoy a rare opportunity to visit The Laird’s Wing, where the last resident Laird, Ninian Brodie, lived until 2003!

Having been used as a holiday let until recently, this beautiful annex of the Castle, with its stunning drawing room and impressive dining room, is not part of our regular tour route so visitors will be able to enjoy a unique view of the collection items, furniture and artwork housed within part of the Laird’s Wing.

The Laird’s Wing will be open for Doors Open Day for self-guided tours from 11-3pm.

Head to the Welcome Centre on Saturday to get your free ticket or you can book online using the booking link on our website.

*Please note, regular Castle access is not part of the Doors Open Day offer. The Castle will be open on the day as usual for self-guided visits 10.30am – 2pm (last entry 1.30pm) with tours in the afternoon if you wish to upgrade your experience.

Our £5 car park will be in operation unless you are an NTS member. The Playful Garden and cafes will also be open 10am - 4pm as usual.

We are thrilled that Andy, our Assistant Head Gardener, will be hosting an Estate Walk on Saturday, 12th September at 11...
31/08/2026

We are thrilled that Andy, our Assistant Head Gardener, will be hosting an Estate Walk on Saturday, 12th September at 11am.

It is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the history of the Estate, some of our wonderful flora and fauna and our plans for the future... with a sprinkling of local information and history too!

You will have the chance to learn and ask questions and we guarantee you will come away with a renewed appreciation of our beautiful Estate and the work that is done on it.

National Trust for Scotland members are free of charge and non-members, £12. Our parking fee will be in operation.

Further information and tickets are available on the link in the comments below.

This weekend sees the end of the Great British Summer Savings scheme, which has involved a temporary 15% VAT reduction o...
28/08/2026

This weekend sees the end of the Great British Summer Savings scheme, which has involved a temporary 15% VAT reduction on admission and children's meals for the last 2 months.

We have been delighted to take part and there is still time to take advantage of this extra offer on a visit to the Castle or a children's meal in one of our cafes.

Prices go back to our usual fantastic value for money from next week, but if you’re a National Trust for Scotland member, you’ll enjoy free entry on every visit to Brodie and the other places in our care. Why not speak to a member of staff about joining next time you are in!

Don't forget the Playful Garden, Adventure Playground, our 2 orienteering courses, the Rodney Stone Ramble and our other great walks are all free of charge. We have a £5 parking fee which is also free if you are a member.

📸 Pawel Piniarski

We are very sorry that all UK children are very nearly back to school as that means our Playful Summer is over 🥺.Sunday,...
26/08/2026

We are very sorry that all UK children are very nearly back to school as that means our Playful Summer is over 🥺.

Sunday, 30th August will mark the end of our wonderful summer adventure in the Playful Garden.

Thank you to everyone who has visited so far! It has been heartwarming to watch families make core summer holiday memories at our property and watch all the fun across the garden - that includes you too grown ups... we have seen more adults playing Swingball than kids!

The Playful Garden, Cafe and Soft Play will remain open 7 days a week until the end of October, just without the added extras we’ve had this summer.

We would love to see some photos of the fun you have been having... and let us know what you enjoyed most about your visit. Please share your pics below.

📸Travis Bremner Photography

Here's another wee then and now comparison from the fantastic photos from the 80s that we came across.This time we are s...
24/08/2026

Here's another wee then and now comparison from the fantastic photos from the 80s that we came across.

This time we are showing our fabulous Drawing Room, a room made to host and enjoy quality time with guests. It features an 1891 Blüthner baby grand piano and a host of seating including our wonderful crinoline chair, designed so women could protect their modesty while wearing their fabulous hooped dresses!

The room is, obviously, one of the highlights of our tour, but is also used for weddings and concerts - we have even held a soundbath here!

You can see our last resident Laird, Ninian, seated in the room - and you will still see him there in a photo and bust today. He is still very much part of the Castle and story!

23/08/2026

We love all the wildlife we are lucky enough to see on the Estate and we have placed hidden cameras around to see what happens when no one is looking.

This cheeky fellow is a pine marten.

About the size of a cat and part of the weasel family, they’re easy to recognise by their gorgeous rich-brown coat and creamy-yellow bib.

Pine martens have been protected by law since 1988, and Scotland’s population of around 3,700 adults is slowly recovering. The Highlands remain their main stronghold – although they are beginning to spread further afield.

They’re shy, quick and very good at avoiding people… so spotting one is a rare treat!

Our Collections Team were having fun over the Scottish school holidays by running 'Collections Crafts in the Courtyard'....
21/08/2026

Our Collections Team were having fun over the Scottish school holidays by running 'Collections Crafts in the Courtyard'... although sadly it did rain sometimes and they ended up in Laird's!

They made a vcariety of things including cyantotypes, also known as solar photography. This process was invented in 1842 by Sir John Herschel and was used to record botanical specimens and architectural designs - aka blueprints!

They were inspired by James, the 21st Brodie of Brodie (1744 – 1824), who was a keen naturalist. He collected lots of botanical specimens from around Moray. Much of his collection is preserved in the herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.

They have also done some quill and ink work, made mini Castle's, done some Chinoiserie type paintings and used stamps to make their own bookplates!

All of the crafts were related to the Castle in some way, and were part of our Playful Summer offering! It was fabulous to see everyone getting involved and how enthusiastic everyone was (including staff as we all had a go too!).

If you took part and have a photo you would like to share, please do in the comments below!

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