This pleasant short walk heads through the grounds of Brodie Castle, visiting its woodland lake and a 1,200 year old Pictish carved stone. The walk is famed for its daffodils in the spring. The castle itself is well worth a visit (admission charge).
Bog Factor
Clear footpaths, tracks and minor road.
Brodie Castle NTS car park.
Buses run along the A96 to Brodie, very close to the route.
NH976574
The walk begins from the Brodie Castle car park - which is free for NTS members, but a charge for non-members; there is alternative parking at Brodie Countryfare near the route for customers of the cafe/shop. Beginning from Brodie Castle car park, begin the walk by following the main track directly to the castle. The ancestral home of Clan Brodie, the castle is run by the National Trust for Scotland and has a renowned art collection.
Pass to the left of the castle and continue the walk on the surfaced path along the broad, tree-lined grassy avenue. Towards the far end of the avenue the path swings right, then back left as it reaches the edge of the trees. A short distance beyond the path reaches a minor road. Go straight across here, following the path with the pond on your left.
There were once several formal ponds here when the grounds were originally laid out in the 1760s, but changing tastes towards more natural landscapes led to the ponds being merged and wooded as seen today. Ignore a path off right at a junction, and keep left again at two further forks, turning back towards the pond. Soon a hide is passed giving an opportunity to view the birdlife on the water.
Continue on the main path by the pond until it swings right over a footbridge. Follow it over the bridge - it soon curves back left to return to the pond by a second hide. From here the path continues along through the trees until it emerges on a minor road - turn right along this.
Just before a level crossing, turn left at a junction - taking the lane between the two gate posts (marked no entry for vehicles). After 100m turn left onto a footpath signed for the castle, but after 150m along this, leave it to turn right opposite a huge old oak tree, heading into an area used for camping. Pass through the camping area, aiming for a footpath (arrow marker) at the far corner. The keeps to the right of the fenced field, then turns left at the far corner of the field. A short distance beyond it meets a vehicle track - go right onto this, but then immediately left onto the path opposite.
The next section has lots of junctions - using our mapping would help! At the first fork take the left path, then take a right turn at the next junction. Keep right at another fork, crossing a footbridge and then emerging at the main castle entrance driveway, beside Rodney's Stone - a magnificently carved Pictish slab.
After admiring the stone turn left along the tarmac lane. When the lane bends left, leave it and take the track directly ahead. This soon reaches a corner of the old walled gardens - turn left here to continue with the wall on your right. The path leads past the NTS visitor centre, with the car park a short distance beyond.
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