Brodie Castle

Nestled into the Countryside about half way between the agricultural Morayshire towns of Nairn and Forres, Brodie Castle is the historic seat of the Clan Brodie and is situated at the heart of the 71 hectare Brodie estate.

the Brodie family have been with the land on which the castle is built since around 1160, when it is believed that King Malcolm IV gifted the land to the family. The original castle was built in 1567 by Clan Brodie but was destroyed by fire in 1645 by Lewis Gordon of Clan Gordon, the 3rd Marquis of Huntly.

In 1824, architect William Burn was commissioned to convert Brodie Castle into a large mansion house in the Scots Baronial style, but these additions were never completed and were later remodelled by James Wylson in 1845.

Like many ancestral homes in Scotland, Brodie Castle has been extended and remodelled over time. The impenetrable 16th-century keep (or tower house) was added to in the 17th-century and a large extension, in keeping with the castles appearance was added in the Victorian era. The Victorians romanticised Scotland and the castles fairytale like turrets and features are a fitting example of this. The castle’s exterior is rendered in Royal Gold harling, giving it a regal exterior appearance.

The castle houses a magnificent collection of furniture, ceramics and artwork, including works by 17th-century Dutch masters, popular interior designers of the period. There are oriental artefacts and painted ceilings and many of the rooms are set up to resemble life at the castle in the Victorian era. The Library boasts an impressive collection of over 6,000 books. There are also historic items from the Clan Brodie on display.

In the grounds there is an eclectic array of interesting things to see. Spring brings a dazzling displays of daffodils, there is an adventure playground for children, wildlife watching hides, a walled garden and an important Pictish monument dating from around 700AD. Nearby is a small hill known as ‘Macbeth’s Hillock’ where the Shakespearean hero is said to have encountered the Weird Sisters.

The Brodie family have called the castle home for some 500 years until 2003 when its last inhabitant, Ninian Brodie of Brodie died age 90.