Moray

All this… right on your doorstep

Forres makes the perfect base from which to explore Moray. Whether it’s bracing mountain bike trails, exploring the malt whisky trail or sampling the culinary produce synonymous with the area, you’ll need a holiday to get over your holiday!

Why visit Moray?

The flat sands of Lossiemouth east beach

Moray is becoming a priority destination for walkers, cyclists, whisky drinkers, nature lovers, photographers, or those just wanting to get away from it all.

It’s coastline is regarded as one of the best in the world with almost-deserted sandy beaches that stretch for miles, and cliffs punctuated with wildlife havens and caves.

The fishing ports have given way to yachting communities and food produced on the land and from the sea is the best you could expect anywhere in the world.

Moray is malt whisky country

Speyside is known the world over as being at the heart of malt whisky country. With more distilleries per square mile than anywhere else in the country, or even the world, it’s an ideal place to learn more about the spirit as a beginner, or delve deeper into the history and processes of making it. Many distilleries are open for tours, and have visitor centres. The history of whisky in this area is fascinating.

A walkers’ paradise

Three gravel paths form a giant triangle known as the Moray Way, a 95-mile route that takes in three shorter tracks, the Speyside Way, the Moray Coast Trail and the Dava Way, all join to encompass some of the best things Moray has to see and do.

Forres (town)

Forres area (up to 10 miles)

Rest of Moray

Mercat Cross

In the town centre

Mercat Cross
The Mercat Cross in Forres is, as many will have assumed, modelled on the much grander Scott Monument in Princes Street, Edinburgh. The Category B lis...
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Forres Tolbooth

In the town centre

Forres Tolbooth
2024 opening times: Everyday from 10am to 3pm, must be pre-booked. The Forres Tolbooth is the town centre's most noticeable landmark standing prominen...
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Grant Park – 100 years in the community

In the town centre

Grant Park was gifted to the town by one of its most famous sons, Sir Alexander Grant, in 1924. It contains a large park area with a natural arena. Al...
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James Thomson Monument

In the town centre

At the western end of the high street is a memorial to a man who died in the Crimean War administering medical care to the wounded. The needle, as it...
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Forres in Bloom

In the town centre

Forres in Bloom
2022: Winner of Beautiful Scotland Medium Town category and Gold Medal Sunken gardens – October 2022 Forres has an enviable display of floral sculptur...
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Market Square

In the town centre

Market Square
The Market Square is a small public space between the Tolbooth and the Mercat Cross. Although only paved in recent years, the square is actually more...
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Nelson’s Tower

0.5 miles from town

Nelson's Tower
2024 opening times: 2-4pm every day till the end of September Nelson's Tower can be seen from miles away, its prominent position on the top of Cluny H...
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Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre

0.6 miles from town

Forres has a reasonably large swimming pool with a separate hydrotherapy pool and fitness centre. Swimming lessions and sessions are available through...
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The ‘Witches Stone’

0.7 miles from town

Witches Stone, Forres
One of the darkest stories Forres has to tell is the tale of the Witches Stone. Situated just metres from the police station, an innocuous boulder lie...
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Benromach Distillery

0.8 miles from town

Benromach Distillery
Benromach Distillery is a traditional Speyside distillery owned by a family of whisky-lovers, and the spirits it produces are renowned for their chara...
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Sueno’s Stone

0.8 miles from town

Sueno's Stone, Forres
This outstanding monolith is the tallest carved standing stone in Scotland and one of the most richly-carved examples in the UK. This enormous carved...
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The Dava Way

1 miles from Forres

Dallas Dhu Distillery
The Dava Way runs from Forres to Grantown-on-Spey and follows the route of the old railway that ran between the two towns until the 1960s. It's 24 mil...
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Sanquhar Pond and woodlands

1.2 miles from Forres

Sanquhar Loch
Sanquhar Pond, or Loch as it is sometimes known, is fed by, and empties into, the Burn of Mosset, which flows through the town and ultimately into Fin...
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Dallas Dhu Distillery

1.7 miles from Forres

Dallas Dhu Distillery
Dallas Dhu has been a museum of whisky production since it closed down in 1983. However, as of 1 July 2024, it has been confirmed that Historic Enviro...
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Kinloss Abbey

3.1 miles from Forres

Kinloss Abbey
At Kinloss are the remains of a Cistercian Abbey, founded in 1150 by King David. The abbey came under the protection of the Bishop of Moray and was se...
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Califer Viewpoint

3.8 miles from Forres

Take in the entire landscape of the Forres area from Califer Viewpoint. It's an elevated position which looks down the farmland of the Laich o' Moray,...
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Blairs Loch (Loch of Blairs)

3.9 miles from Forres

Last updated: June 2024 This beautiful place, just outside Forres, is a haven for wildlife and a relaxing place to visit. Ongoing work by volunteers h...
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Playful Garden at Brodie Castle

3.9 miles from Forres

Playful Garden, Brodie Castle
The Playful Garden, within the grounds of Brodie Castle, is a destination in itself. A huge sensory outdoor area with a different twist on some old fa...
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Altyre Estate

3.9 miles from Forres

Altyre Estate
The Altyre Estate has been the family home of the Cummings clan for 800 years. It is a privately owned family-run historic estate a short drive, walk...
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Brodie Castle

3.9 miles from Forres

Brodie Castle
Brodie Castle is a grand 16th-century castle that was the home of the Brodie clan for over 400 years. It was gifted to the National Trust for Scotland...
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Brodie Pond

4 miles from Forres

Pond at Brodie Castle
This is a pleasant trail around the pond at Brodie Castle. The water feature lies at the end of a long avenue of trees leading west from the castle. I...
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Burgie Arboretum

4.2 miles from Forres

This picturesque part of the Burgie Estate has more than 600 acres of trees, flowers and bushes. It offers a mix of full grown trees and hundreds of r...
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Sluie Walk

4.3 miles from Forres

Sluie Walk
This is a narrow ledge along the River Findhorn with steep cliffs and sudden drops. Take care, particularly in wet weather. The route links up with wa...
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Morayvia

4.3 miles from Forres

Morayvia is an aviation museum, perfectly placed near to one of the country's former RAF stations at Kinloss. As a result, there are lots of exhibits...
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Findhorn Bay

4.8 miles from Forres

Findhorn Bay Local Nature Reserve
Findhorn Bay is a wide sandy estuary which is of national importance for birds with significant numbers of migrant wildfowl and waders. It is also a b...
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The Park Ecovillage (formerly Findhorn Foundation)

5 miles from Forres

The Park Ecovillage is the new name for the Findhorn Foundation, a spiritual community that offers a hub for people to live and work for people who li...
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Culbin Forest

5.3 miles from Forres

Culbin Forest
Culbin has a fascinating network of tracks to explore on foot or bike. It's suitable for walking and cycling, with miles and miles of tracks. You can...
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Findhorn Ice House and Heritage Centre

5.5 miles from Forres

Findhorn Ice House
The ice house is an intriguing little building built in the mid-19th century as a natural freezer to support the local coastal salmon netting industry...
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Findhorn Beach

5.7 miles from Forres

Findhorn
Findhorn Beach Home > Explore > Moray > Findhorn Beach Now that's what you call a flat white Stretching from the nar...
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Randolph’s Leap

6.7 miles from Forres

Randolph's Leap
Randolph's Leap is a walk along the River Findhorn, named after a specific point where the gorge narrows. It is said that at this point Thomas Randolp...
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Logie Steading and Gardens

6.8 miles from Forres

Logie Steading
Logie Steading is a mini shopping centre in a rural setting, where you'll find a number of craft businesses, retailers and things to do, and a conveni...
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Loch Romach

7.2 miles from Forres

Loch Romach
This remote body of water is only accessible on foot, but it is well worth the walk. Also known as Romach Loch or the Romach Reservoir, it has an eart...
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Roseisle

7.5 miles from Forres

This beautiful beach seamlessly connects Findhorn and Burghead. It's a beautiful, wide strip of smooth sand with a dune bank. It's punctuated with con...
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Logie Wind Farm

7.5 miles from Forres

Also known as Hill of Glaschyle, this wind farm on the Logie Estate makes a nice circular walk through the Moray countryside. The paths are gravelled,...
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Cummingston

10 miles from Forres

Cummingston is a small village along the road between Burghead and Hopeman. It's easy to pass through without noticing what hides behind the facade of...
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Pluscarden Abbey

10.8 miles from Forres

Pluscarden Abbey
Pluscarden Abbey sits majestically in the Black Burn glen between Elgin and Dallas. It was founded in 13th century by Alexander II, as a Valliscaulian...
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Torrieston Walks

11.4 miles from Forres

Torrieston Walks
Torrieston is a way-marked family trail with some great views across the Moray countryside. There are two trails managed by Forestry and Land Scotland...
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Elgin

12.5 miles from Forres

Cooper Park, Elgin
Elgin is the largest town in Moray and considered the 'capital'. It sits on the River Lossie, and has an impressive cathedral, now ruined, but once th...
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Elgin Cathedral

12.6 miles from Forres

Elgin Cathedral
Elgin Cathedral is the third largest cathedral in Scotland. Despite being in ruins, it is a picturesque sight with the western towers largely complete...
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Duffus Castle

12.7 miles from Forres

Duffus Castle
Duffus Castle is now in ruins, but it was once the strongest fortress in Scotland. Originally, this would have been a wooden castle built in the 1100s...
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Biblical Garden

12.7 miles from Forres

This lovely peaceful walled biblical garden is right next to the ruined Elgin Cathedral, the Bishop's Palace and the River Lossie. It's a peaceful and...
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Hopeman

13.2 miles from Forres

Hopeman is a small village between Burghead and Lossiemouth. Once a bustling harbour, it is now used mainly by yachts. The village has a main street w...
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Covesea

13.7 miles from Forres

Covesea
Covesea is a wonderful place encapsulating everything that makes the area such a beautiful place to visit. It's a small village, but it has lent its n...
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Millbuies Country Park

16.6 miles from Forres

Millbuies is a trout fishery and country estate easily accessible by road, and providing a pleasant place to walk and fish as well as a habitat for wi...
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Knockando Woolmill

17 miles from Forres

Knockando Woolmill in the Spey Valley boasts a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1784. Having re-opened to the public in 2012, it has c...
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Lossiemouth

17.2 miles from Forres

The view from Prospect Terrace of Lossiemouth's west beach stretching for miles, curving away into the distance is a beautiful site. This Jewel of Mor...
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Rothes

22 miles from Forres

Rothes is deep in the heart of Speyside and the nearby villages of Aberlour and Craigellachie make this part of Speyside very much a part of the whisk...
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Winding Walks

22 miles from Forres

Winding Walks, Fochabers
The Winding Walks, as you might expect from the name, are a maze of paths on wooded forestry land just outside Fochabers. Suitable for walking and mou...
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Whiteash Hill

24 miles from Forres

Whiteash Hill
The walk to Whiteash Hill is relatively unremarkable, but the rewards at the summit are spectacular. A forestry path splits through enormously high tr...
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Craigellachie

25 miles from Forres

Craigellachie is a small village situated where the River Spey and River Fiddich meet. The two rivers are synonymous with Speyside whisky production,...
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Aberlour

26 miles from Forres

Technically, this vilage is called Charleston of Aberlour, but shortened to Aberlour. It was named by Charles Grant of Elchies in 1812 after his son,...
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Dufftown

27 miles from Forres

Dufftown is firmly on the Speyside Whisky trail, even though it is several miles from the River Spey. It sits on the River Fiddich and the Dullan Wate...
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Bow Fiddle Rock

30 miles from Forres

Bow Fiddle Rock is one of the Moray Coast's most outstanding natural features. A superb natural arch that has taken on an iconic shape, turning a smal...
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Ben Rinnes

33 miles from Forres

Ben Rinnes
Ben Rinnes is Moray's highest peak, with a summit of 2733ft (841 metres). It offers outstanding views of the surrounding countryside. It is a popular...
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Cullen

33 miles from Forres

View over Cullen
Cullen at the far eastern edge of Moray marks the end of the Moray Coast Trail, or the beginning if you walk east to west, but the scenic beauty of th...
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Tomintoul

36 miles from Forres

This "model village" was built in 1775 by Alexander Gordon the 4th Duke of Gordon, 20 years after the military road by William Caulfeild app...
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Lecht Mine

41 miles from Forres

The Lecht Mine is a prominent building set back from the road between Tomintoul and The Lecht ski centre. It is a former iron mining si...
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The Lecht

42 miles from Forres

The Lecht is a ski resort on the A939 between Cockbridge and Tomintoul. It has been in operation since the 1970s, and as many people are aware, t...
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