Brodie Castle & Estate

Brodie Castle is the rose-pink turreted seat of the Brodies of Brodie, a family on this Moray land since the 12th century. Guided tours take in the main rooms, a 6,000-volume library and paintings from Dutch Old Masters to modern watercolours, while the grounds hold the National Daffodil Collection, more than 100 varieties that carpet the lawns each spring, and Rodney's Stone, an 8th-century Pictish slab on the entrance drive. The Playful Garden tells the family story through oversized sculptures, among them a 6.5-metre Brodie Bunny, and the whole estate is cared for by the National Trust for Scotland. Reviewers praise the engaging guides, the walk round the pond, where deer are sometimes seen, and a reasonably priced cafe. Tips from visitors: the castle is a sprawl of stairs so prams stay outside, the grounds are free to walk, and Saturday morning is the only self-guided slot.