Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Saquon Barkley Plaque
Kirkkasik Bedesten inside
Kirkkasik Bedesten
Someshwar Temple
Someshwar Temple
Grilled cheese and tomato soup are soulmates.
The Palisades Restaurant
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
A skeleton on display contemplating its own mortality.
Kid Mai Death Awareness Cafe
This classic London pub has a surprising history behind it.
John Snow
The beef, Guinness, and oyster pie sports a rich, flaky crust.
The Guinea
Welcome to one of the only floating pubs in the world.
Tamesis Dock
This may be the oldest pie in the world.
St Helens 'Oldest Pie' at The Turks Head
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Decoy’s wines reflect the terroir of California.
How a Wooden Duck Migrated From the California Wetlands to a Wine Label
10 days ago
There’s more to the French capital than the Eiffel Tower.
Dear Atlas: What Are Some Non-Touristy Things to Do in Paris?
13 days ago
The plants around Liz Dauncey in this photo are not poisonous, but many common garden and houseplants are.
Are Some of Your Favorite Houseplants Poisonous? AO Wants to Know.
20 days ago
“There may be a collective sense of a dark loneliness,” Dahl says, referring to Norway’s natural landscape.
In Norway, Easter Means Tucking Into Crime Stories
20 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Virginia Arlington Brandymore Castle
AO Edited

Brandymore Castle

This "castle" is actually a limestone and quartz formation hidden along a trail.

Arlington, Virginia

Added By
Ian Hall
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Brandymore Castle   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Brandymore Castle   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Brandymore Castle historical marker.   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Approaching Brandymore Castle.   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Path leading from the trail head to the W&OD Trail.   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Uphill path into the woods.   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Brandymore Castle   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

With a regal name like Brandymore, one would expect a moat, drawbridge, and parapets. However, this castle isn't really a castle at all. In fact, if not for the historical marker standing just across the Washington and Old Dominion trail, it is very likely that this natural rock formation would languish in total obscurity.

Brandymore Castle once overlooked Four Mile Run, which served as a moat for the elevated rock formation. The origin of the name is a mystery, but the discovery of the landmark is attributed to surveyor Charles Broadwater, who first described the location in 1724. The land on which the "castle" is located was once owned by the Gunnell Family of Arlington, who still have descendants in the area.

The street address provided terminates at a short path that leads to the W&OD Trail. Hang a left and summit the hill to find the historical marker on the right at the top. While there is some graffiti and evidence of vandalism around the rock formation, it is instantly identifiable after climbing the well-worn path to the top of the hill. 

Related Tags

Rock Formations Natural History Nature

Know Before You Go

The historical marker is inscribed with the following information: 

"This landmark was first described in 1724 by surveyor Charles Broadwater as "the rock stones called Brandymore Castle." Research in 1972 established that the natural formation matched the boundary descriptions on the 18th century land grands from Lord Fairfax to William Gunnel, James Going and Simon Pearson, George Harrison, John Carlye and John Dalton, and Captain Charles Broadwater. The origin of the name "Brandymore" is unknown, but this rocky outcrop resembles the collapsed battlements of an old castle with Four Mile Run serving as a moat."

Community Contributors

Added By

blimpcaptain

Edited By

jammingecono

  • jammingecono

Published

September 20, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=8180
  • https://brandymorecastle.blogspot.com/2007/03/starting-blogger.html?m=1
Brandymore Castle
1320 N Quintana St
Arlington, Virginia, 22205
United States
38.884094, -77.152673
Get Directions

Nearby Places

'Pennies from Heaven'

Falls Church, Virginia

miles away

Henderson House

Falls Church, Virginia

miles away

Tinner Hill Historic Site

Falls Church, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Arlington

Arlington

Virginia

Places 28
Stories 2

Nearby Places

'Pennies from Heaven'

Falls Church, Virginia

miles away

Henderson House

Falls Church, Virginia

miles away

Tinner Hill Historic Site

Falls Church, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Arlington

Arlington

Virginia

Places 28
Stories 2

Related Places

  • The miracle junction forming the natural flying buttress.

    Saint-Bernard, France

    Miracle Arch

    The second-largest natural arch in the Chartreuse Mountains.

  • Mobius Arch

    Lone Pine, California

    Mobius Arch

    This rock formation named for its unique shape is one of many that call the Alabama Hills home.

  • Tumuli near Byaduk

    Byaduk, Australia

    Tumuli Lava Blisters

    These naturally occurring but rare geological formations are each about the size of a small house.

  • Morioka, Japan

    Rock-Splitting Cherry Tree

    A 360-year-old cherry tree grows out of a granite boulder.

  • After extensive renovations in the 1990s, the mine was opened to the public.

    Scotia, Nebraska

    Happy Jack Chalk Mine

    After sitting abandoned for decades, this historic mine is now the only publicly accessible chalk room and pillar mine in North America.

  • Thar she blows!

    East End, Cayman Islands

    The Blowholes

    This natural rock formation spouts jets of water into the air.

  • Mexican Hat

    Mexican Hat, Utah

    Mexican Hat

    This balancing rock is one of Utah's most unusual geological formations.

  • Smith Rock State Park

    Terrebonne, Oregon

    Smith Rock State Park

    Spectacular volcanic cliffs along the Crooked River invite hiking, rock climbing, and photography.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.