Hidden Scotland
Sign in
Giant black and white spinning seats in a hedged circle at the Playful Garden, Brodie Castle.
Morayshire

The Playful Garden

A garden of play at Brodie Castle, with giant musical instruments, spinning seats, unicorns and Scotland's biggest bunny sculpture, all inspired by the castle's story.

Welcome

In the grounds of Brodie Castle, the Playful Garden is a place where children are meant to run, climb, spin and make as much noise as they like.

Every corner of it is inspired by the colourful story of the Brodie family and their castle.

There are giant xylophones and chimes to play, black and white seats that spin like tops, a doll's house big enough to walk into, unicorns, and the star of the show: the biggest bunny sculpture in Scotland. Around them are swings, zip lines and forts, all set among hedges and lawns.

Entry to the garden is free, with a charge for the estate car park, and there is a cafe for coffee and cake while the children play. It opens every day from July to October and closes for the winter, and dogs are welcome. The castle is close by.

A short drive awayCafe 1496A busy cafe on Forres High Street serving breakfast all day, every day, with locally roasted coffee and home bakes.10 min by roadSee itCafe 1496 on Forres High Street, a white shopfront with gold lettering, a wreath on the door and blue tables outside.
Before you go

Open daily 10am to 4pm from July to October; closed November to February.

Free, with a £5 car park.

Where
Brodie Castle, near Forres, IV36 2WT.
Entry
Free; car park £5.
Look for
Scotland's biggest bunny sculpture.
Where it is

In the grounds of Brodie Castle, off the A96 west of Forres, IV36 2WT.

Close byForres.
  1. Brodie CastleBrodie CastleThe rose-coloured castle next door.Under a mile2 min by road
  2. Rodney's Stone standing in a small wattle-fenced enclosure on the lawn by the drive to Brodie Castle, a walker passing.Rodney’s StoneThe Pictish stone in the grounds.1 mile5 min by road
  3. ULY + RO, ForresAn independent shop of design-led homeware and gifts on Forres High Street.5 miles10 min by road
  4. Nelson's TowerNelson's TowerA castellated tower on Cluny Hill above Forres, raised to Admiral Nelson and opened on Trafalgar Day 1812, with a famous view from the top.5 miles11 min by road
  5. Sueno’s StoneSueno’s StoneA seven-metre Pictish cross-slab on the edge of Forres, the tallest early medieval carving in Scotland, covered in scenes of battle.6 miles11 min by road
Directions
Culbin Edge, Inverness-shireMorayshireCulbin EdgeSleeps 4 · 1.9 miles
Cafe 1496 on Forres High Street, a white shopfront with gold lettering, a wreath on the door and blue tables outside.CafeCafe 14964.6 miles
A curved cabin clad in overlapping wooden shingles stands on gravel among wildflowers, arched windows and a door along one side.MorayshireBoath CabinSleeps 4 · 6.0 miles
Grassy dunes border a wide sandy beach with walkers near the shorelineAttractionsNairn6.9 miles
Brown signpost reading "Sluie Walk" surrounded by ferns and woodlandAttractionsSluie Walk7.0 miles
Long stone pier stretches into the sea beyond a grassy duneAttractionsNairn Beach7.2 miles
Golfers on the fairway seen through dining room windows with laid tablesAttractionsNairn Golf Club8.0 miles
Wooden houses with red-framed windows line a quiet coastal laneAttractionsFindhorn Ecovillage8.6 miles
River winding through autumn woodland with orange and gold foliageAttractionsRandolph's Leap9.1 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the garden, and when each is next free.

Culbin Edge, Inverness-shireCulbin Edge
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Morayshire
  • A mile from the Playful Garden
Free 9–11 NovA curved cabin clad in overlapping wooden shingles stands on gravel among wildflowers, arched windows and a door along one side.Boath Cabin
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Morayshire
  • 4 miles from the Playful Garden
Free 16–18 OctThe timber cabin lit at dusk against a pink sky, a hot tub steaming on the deck beside two chairs.Callie Bothy
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Morayshire
  • 10 miles from the Playful Garden
Free 16–18 OctLiving room with red sofa, patterned ottoman and staircase behindNewhall Mains
  • To stay
  • In Balblair
  • 18 miles from the Playful Garden
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in MorayshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
Hidden Scotland, the magazine

Scotland, in print.

Every photograph commissioned, every word written by somebody who went. Printed twice a year, made in Scotland.

Get Issue 13Read it here
Find out more

For further reading, before you go.