Brodie Castle

Try orienteering at Brodie Castle !

Jogging round a Permanent Orienteering Course is the perfect way to get active, enjoying the scenery and green spaces with your family, or a chance to get outdoors for a competitive challenge! The combination of physical and mental exercise often in stunning locations is like no other, as you can find, navigate and complete courses at any time, at your own pace. 

The Permanent Orienteering Courses at Brodie Castle and Estate NTS are series of posts (controls) spread around the Estate, shown on a map available from the Welcome Centre or available to download. Posts are usually on obvious features such as path junctions and fence corners.  Your challenge is to find these controls, following a route drawn on the map.  Each post or control will have a number and a unique letter and number on it. Controls should be visited in the order shown on the map. Match the control code with that shown on your map, and note down the matching number as proof you’ve been there.  Navigation around a course is a great fun - you can run or walk between controls from the start to the finish. 

Two courses are available:
Shorter - Castle and Gardens (1.0 km)
Longer - Avenue and Pond (2.3 km)

The start and finish for both courses is close to the Welcome Centre, where maps can be obtained.

The equipment you need: a map with your course marked on it, available from the Welcome Centre or downloaded. A pen or pencil; a compass is optional - you could download one on your mobile phone. And of course suitable clothing for the weather on the day!

Safety: Some of the paths may be uneven, muddy and slippery; take care. If you are following the longer ‘Avenue and Lake’ course, take care crossing the road at the end of the avenue.

These permanent orienteering courses have been set up as a partnership between the National Trust for Scotland and Moravian Orienteering Club to give people new to orienteering an opportunity to try out the sport. The two courses are designed for people of a wide range of ages and abilities. Routes take in garden and woodland tracks and paths. Both courses are graded as Easy, with controls on or close to paths and tracks on the Castle Estate. These courses are suitable for individuals, families and small groups. The shorter course is more suitable for buggies - the paths on the longer course are more uneven. The distances shown for each course represents the straight-line distance between the controls. The route people actually follow will often be longer!

Please note that the car park is a pay and display if you are not a member of the National Trust for Scotland. If you have any comments about using this course, or if you find any of the controls damaged or missing, please email: club@mor.scot or let them know at the Welcome Centre.