New photo trail and orienteering courses at Brodie Castle

We’re inviting visitors to join our photo trail at Brodie Castle & Estate to capture snapshots of their experience at expertly designed photo spots, created with local bushcraft instructor and wildlife photographer Will Hall.

The photo trail includes 10 marker posts that have been modified to function as a camera or phone stand, allowing visitors to take perfectly angled photographs of the castle, grounds and pond. The team at Brodie collaborated with Will to identify the sites for these marker posts, choosing the best positions to capture the most photogenic views of the castle and landscape. Visitors can download a map, which also contains some photography tips from the filmmaker on how to get the best shots. We’d love visitors to then get involved online and share their photographs using the hashtag #BrodiePhotoTrail on social media.

In addition to the photo trail, the team has also designed two orienteering courses in partnership with Moravian Orienteering Club, which are both registered on the British Orienteering website. A short beginner’s course is available for all ages and abilities, following a path around the castle grounds. The second, more advanced course leads visitors around the wider estate and pond, providing a more challenging route. Course maps are available from the Welcome Centre, where a QR code also provides access to a digital map. The orienteering course does not require compass reading skills, but participants can download a compass app to enhance the experience.

Pamela Hill, Operations Manager at Brodie Castle, said: ‘We’re excited to welcome visitors to our new photo trail and orienteering courses that highlight the beauty of Brodie Castle and the wider estate. There are so many incredible spots to take photographs of the castle, gardens and pond, and we can’t wait to see the photographs that visitors share using our new hashtag #BrodiePhotoTrail.

Pamela continued: ‘We’re proud of how of the courses have turned out and we are already receiving positive feedback on them, which is really rewarding for the whole team here at Brodie. It’s thanks to the continued generosity of our members and supporters that we’re able to continue our work to care for, protect and share Scotland’s cultural and natural heritage for everyone to enjoy, now and into the future.’

Alongside the photo trail and orienteering courses, visitors to Brodie Castle can also enjoy guided tours of the castle, the ancestral home of the Brodie clan for over 400 years. They will have the opportunity to see an impressive collection of furniture, ceramics and artwork, including works by 17th-century Dutch Masters, as well as its library, which boasts an incredible collection of over 6,000 volumes. Families will also enjoy the Playful Garden, which explores the Brodie family history in a fun-filled way to keep young ones entertained.

Activities like the photo trail and orienteering courses support the National Trust for Scotland’s vision to care for, share and protect Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage, as outlined in our strategy launched in 2022, and contributes to our engagement objectives to provide access and enjoyment for everyone.