Brodie Illuminated at Brodie Castle

Brodie Illuminated is a nighttime event held at Brodie Castle in North East Scotland. Creative light installations are placed all over the castle grounds, including the playful garden and projected onto the castle's walls.

Forres hosted a light trail event about ten years ago, ascending Cluny Hill to Nelson's Tower. We enjoyed this event, as it gave a whole new spin on a walk we had completed many times. Landmark also had its Ancient Forest Twi-Lights event last year, which was a lot of fun. The lights make the forest seem very magical, so we were keen to experience a similar light trail at Brodie Castle.

Our visit to Brodie Illuminated

Brodie Castle was kind enough to give us family a pass to cover the event on a Friday night (Thanks, Kirsty!). My wife and I visited Brodie Castle last year. We had a wonderful tour of the castle and walked through the picturesque grounds.

This visit was a very different experience, as it was very dark, and we had the kids with us this time, which was great. A parking attendant guided us into the car park, which was also lit up with fairy lights. Making our way to the Welcome Centre, there was definitely an air of magic about the place—and the delicious smell of burgers from the food van!

We were issued wristbands at the Welcome Centre and made our way to the exit on the far side.

The Playful Garden

The Playful Garden has a giant white rabbit on the hillside. A projector shining a patchwork of colour onto the rabbit immediately took our attention. A tunnel of lights was to our right, so we stopped for a photo op. Then, we continued to the wild garden area, where a central sculpture was also illuminated.

We then took a closer look at the rabbit and went through the tunnel to the main area of the Playful Garden. In daylight his garden was already a very whimsical place with many interesting exhibits, but illuminated at night gave a whole new spin to the playful garden.

The mirrored columns reflected light in weird ways, the trees looked magical with fairy lights, and the unicorns reflected the lights within their structure.

There is an area with many different xylophone-like instruments. Bathed in deep blue and purple lighting, this area was quite trippy, with the sounds of the xylophones being battered by other kids. See Lauren having a shot below.

Walking to the Castle

The lovely staff at the event guided us clockwise from the Playful Garden, first through an illuminated forest and then to a seating area with the main view of the projector display directly on the castle.

This display is on a short continuous loop and is quite fun, with many different characters and designs.

The route takes you past the castle's walls and then down a forest-lined path with an audio section with poems being read. This path usually would take you to the pond area, but it doesn't go as far on the illuminated experience. It loops back to the main view of the castle with the large tree next to it.

The final section

Passing the castle, the path leads to a long section with golden lights. At the castle's rear, another unicorn video is playing on a loop.

The final projector display shows a view of the castle with its last owner, Ninian Brodie, who gifted the castle and estate to NTS Scotland. It was a fitting end to the walk; to top it off, we also saw the Aurora Borealis!

We retraced our steps back through the Playful Garden, the tunnel and back to the car park.

FAQs on Brodie Illuminated

Is the event wheelchair accessible?

While efforts are made to ensure accessibility, certain parts of the grounds may be challenging for wheelchairs due to natural terrain. Some sections had mats placed over uneven areas, so thought has been given to wheelchair users.

Is the event suitable for children and families?

Absolutely! Brodie Illuminated is designed to be a family-friendly experience for guests of all ages. My three girls, aged 14, 12 and 8, loved it.

Do NTS members get free entry?

No, this event is not covered by an NTS membership.

Key Information on Brodie Illuminated

• Brodie Illuminated is a light show held at Brodie Castle in northeast Scotland.

• The event in 2024 was held between the 1st and 24th of November 2024.

• The illuminated trail covers most of Brodie Castle's grounds, including the playful garden and immediate grounds around the castle. However, it does not go as far as the pond.

• A food truck was available at the Welcome Centre.

• Toilets are available at the car park and the Welcome Centre.

Conclusion

I love these types of light trail events—the darkness, the cold air, the brightly coloured lights and projectors. It's a magical experience made all the better with excited children having fun. Brodie Illuminated continues until the 24th of November, so there's still time for you to check it out!