Top 12 Things Around Brodie Countryfare
Pictured: Forres in Bloom flowers
The beautiful Morayshire area is well known for its stunning view points, rolling hills, outstanding beaches, outdoor activities, delicious food & drink and of course, Speyside's Malt Whisky Trail, home to many world famous whisky distilleries.
We have put together a list of our favourite attractions near Brodie Countryfare to help you plan your itinerary for your next visit to Brodie and the amazing Morayshire area.
1. Nelson’s Tower, Grant Park and Sueno Stone
Take a walk round Grant Park in Forres, which features a award winning flower displays, playpark, cricket pitch and bowling green. Within this century old park is Cluny Hill which is crowned with Nelson's Tower at the summit. Climb to the top of the tower April - September 2pm to 4pm and enjoy the extensive views of Forres and the incredible Moray Firth Coast. Nelson’s Tower was built in 1812 and is the first building to commemorate Lord Nelson after his death in the Battle of Trafalgar.
Close by is Sueno’s Stone, standing over 6m tall and weighing 7.6 tonnes. It’s free to visit and easily accessible with free parking located onsite. Marvel at the sheer size and attention to detail of the largest Pictish carved standing stone in Scotland.
2. Benromach
Located at the start of the Malt Whisky trail, a nearby distillery to Brodie Countryfare is Benromach. Established in 1898, it is the smallest whisky distillery in Speyside. Since 2006, they proudly boast the title of the world’s first certified organic single malt whisky by the Soil Association.
Tours start from £10 and is conveniently located next to the train station at Forres.
3. Findhorn Beach
Findhorn beach is one of our top favourites here at Brodie Countryfare. If you are lucky, you might spot seals basking in the sunshine and there are regular dolphin sightings nearby, especially if you choose to explore the coastline by boat with North 58 Sea Adventures. The Findhorn Marina provides a peaceful spot for sailing and water sports like kayaking and paddle boarding.
Findhorn also forms part of the Moray Coast trail, a 50 mile walk that begins here and ends in Cullen, spanning across Morayshire's best beaches and rugged cliffs.
4. Culbin Forest – Hill Trail 99
Not far from Findhorn is the Culbin Forest and Hill Trail 99. Climb the wooden viewing tower to join the top of the tree canopy, for excellent views across the Moray Firth and as far as the Cairngorms. Culbin Forest is an RSPB reserve and is a great spot for bird watching. It has various ponds which are excellent for spotting tadpoles, dragonflies and wading birds when the season is right.
6. Nairn Beach & Town
Located a ten minute drive from Brodie is the popular family holiday destination of Nairn, one of the sunniest and driest places in Scotland. Nairn offers a great day out for the family with its 3 beautiful beaches, amazing scenery and its 2 world renowned championship golf courses.
The beach front has a splash pad, 18-hole crazy golf and fantastic playgrounds for kids to enjoy.
6. Cawdor Castle & Gardens
Open from April to October, Cawdor Castle and gardens are a sight not to be missed. Situated 9 miles from Brodie Countryfare, it is around a 15-to-20-minute drive.
Cawdor Castle is shrouded in history, it was originally built around a 15th century tower house as a fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor.
Today, visitors are welcome to explore 12 rooms in the castle where you can see fine art, sculptures and tapestries spanning across over 3000 years.
Cawdor boasts many different gardens including a walled garden, a herbaceous garden and Auchindoune Gardens. The garden is full of beautiful rhododendrons, azaleas and roses to name just a few of the varieties.
5th Earl Cawdor brought a selection of rare Tibetan plants to his home over 80 years ago, today it’s a stunning place of beauty to explore.
7. Lochindorb
The remote and dramatic loch of Lochindorb is situated on the Dava Moor, south of Forres. Located on the partly man-made island in the centre of the loch, the historic Lochindorb Castle was once the residence of Alexander Stewart, also known as The Wolf of Badenoch. Stewart reportedly burned down the Elgin Cathedral, sacked the town of Forres and destroyed Pluscarden Abbey and many more places around the area. In Gaelic, Lochindorb means “The Loch of Trouble” and it definitely had its share of trouble!
Lochindorb is around 6.5 miles west of Grantown on Spey and around 20 miles from Brodie Countryfare. It’s well sign posted along the main road, the A940 which goes from Forres to Grantown on Spey and is a great spot for paddle boarding.
8. Elgin Cathedral & Biblical Gardens
The city of Elgin is bursting with history and houses the only cathedral in Morayshire. Elgin Cathedral, known as the "Lantern of the North", dates back to 1224, an incredible sight of medieval architecture. Elgin Cathedral lost its roof after the Scottish Reformation of 1560 and later its tower collapsed.
Situated just next to the Cathedral, you can explore Elgin’s Biblical gardens, a peaceful getaway for a picnic or simply just to enjoy the greenery.
9. Fort George & Whale Watching
Just a 25 minute drive from Brodie is the impressive Fort George, an 18th century fortress built during the Battle of Culloden. This mighty fortress is one of the strongest in the UK and has never been attacked. It is still used as an army barracks to this day and is open for the public to visit.
Fort George is a popular spot to see dolphins heading across to Chanonry Point. The best time to spot orcas is May - September.
Image: Live Breathe Scotland
10. The Dava Way
The Dava Way is well known as one of Scotland's Great Trails and is one of Scotland's best walking and cycling routes. Starting in Forres and finishing in Grantown, the Dava Way is a 24-miles-long route. It follows the old railway line, in operation from 1863 to 1965. Visit www.walkhighlands.co.uk for more information.
11. Brodie Castle
Next door to us here at Brodie Countryfare is Brodie Castle, once the ancestral home to the Brodie Clan for over 400 years. The castle was built around 1567, unfortunately destroyed by a fire in 1645 by Lewis Gordon of Clan Gordon, the 3rd Marquis of Huntly. Today, it is owned by The National Trust of Scotland and is open for the public to visit.
The grounds are easily accessible and are a great place for the kids to explore, there’s a giant bunny, musical instruments and even soft play for wet days. The kids will enjoy a stroll around the duck pond and looking at all the lovely flowers in the walled garden.
We hope this has inspire your next trip to Brodie Countryfare & Moray and the Highlands!
We look forward to welcoming you soon.
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Posted on November 23 2023