Castles of Clan Brodie

Brodie Castle
Brodie Castle, near Forres in Moray, has been the ancestral seat of the chiefs of Clan Brodie since the 16th century. Originally built in 1567 as a Z-plan tower house, it was attacked and partially destroyed by Lord Lewis Gordon during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in 1645. It was restored and later expanded in 1824 by architect William Burn, blending Renaissance and Scots Baronial styles. The castle remained in Brodie family hands until the 20th century and is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. Its distinctive pink harling, circular towers, and richly decorated interiors make it one of the most significant clan seats in the Highlands.

Lethen House
Lethen House, in Nairnshire near Auldearn, became the seat of the Brodies of Lethen, a cadet branch of Clan Brodie, in the early 17th century. The house replaced an earlier fortified residence and was besieged during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms by Royalist forces in 1645. The Brodies of Lethen held out for twelve weeks before the siege ended. The current Georgian-style mansion was completed in 1788 and still bears the initials of Anne Brodie. It remains privately owned and is one of the oldest estates still associated with the Brodie name.

Milton Brodie House
Milton Brodie House, near Kinloss in Moray, was built in the early 18th century on the site of an earlier Brodie property. The house served as a more modern residence for a branch of the Brodie family and was remodeled in the 1830s. The elegant Georgian architecture includes a seven-bay façade and classical portico. Though not a defensive structure, it reflects the family’s transition from fortified tower dwellings to refined country estates. The house is Category A listed and surrounded by parkland.

Asliesk Castle
Asliesk Castle, located west of Elgin in Moray, is a ruined 16th-century L-plan tower house associated with a branch of the Brodie family. Though ownership records are divided between the Innes and Brodie families, Brodie lairds were active in the area and may have occupied the castle during the late 1500s. Only a portion of a wall and remnants of the west wing survive, with carved stones and an inscribed 1587 date relocated nearby. The site is also linked to local folklore surrounding Macbeth. Though largely lost, Asliesk reflects the extended reach of Brodie influence in Moray.

Castles Loosely Associated with Clan Brodie

Ardclach Bell Tower
Ardclach Bell Tower, near the River Findhorn in Nairnshire, was built in 1655 by Alexander Brodie of Lethen. Though not a castle, the tower served as a watch post and temporary prison during the Covenanting period. It was used by the Brodies as a defensive lookout against Royalist raids. The small, two-storey tower features a bell tower above and retains much of its original structure. It remains one of the few bell towers of its kind in Scotland and is closely linked to the Brodies’ religious and political activity.

Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle, south of Nairn, is best known as the seat of the Campbells of Cawdor but has ties to Clan Brodie through 17th-century marriage alliances. In 1634, Elizabeth Brodie married Colin Campbell, Tutor of Cawdor, strengthening regional ties between the clans. The castle features a 15th-century central keep surrounded by later additions, including a drawbridge and lush gardens. Though not owned by the Brodies, it played a part in the family’s social and political networks. It remains one of the most complete and picturesque castles in the Highlands.

Kilravock Castle
Kilravock Castle, near Croy in Nairnshire, is the ancestral seat of Clan Rose, close allies of Clan Brodie. Intermarriages between the Brodies and Roses created long-standing bonds, and Brodie family members were often guests or temporary residents during times of unrest. The castle dates to around 1460 and includes a tower house with later wings. It hosted royal and notable visitors, including Mary, Queen of Scots, and Bonnie Prince Charlie. Though not a Brodie residence, its history is intertwined with that of the clan.

References

Coventry, M. (2010). The Castles of Scotland (5th ed.). Musselburgh: Goblinshead.
Tabraham, C. (2005). Scotland’s Castles. London: Batsford.
Historic Environment Scotland. (n.d.). Castle Records and Listings.
National Trust for Scotland. (n.d.). Brodie Castle Estate Archives.
Clan Brodie Society. (n.d.). Clan History and Lands.
RCAHMS. (n.d.). National Monuments Record of Scotland.