Walking is one of the reasons people come to the Forres area. Its rural location is perfect for walking and hiking and with so many waymarked pathways, you can choose to follow these or go ‘off-piste’ and make your own tracks through the countryside.
Numerous marked paths provide miles of walking trails as well as a lesson in history. The Forres Footpaths Trust is an organisation that maintains such walks and produces marked pathways around the town, taking in some of its highlights.
Forres has a network of walking paths in and around the town. Many of these are designed to link up historical sites such as the path to Nelson’s Tower.
Forres was awarded Walkers are Welcome status in 2016 because of its network of well-maintained and signposted paths, numerous walking groups, walking festival and information resources for walkers.
The Forres Footpaths Trust has detailed factsheets that you can download from the website, and there is a booklet called “A Guide to Walking in Forres and The Surrounding Area” which is available from local outlets.
Here are some of the most poular walks:
- Randolphs Leap – Spectacular walk alongside the rapids of River Findhorn
- Sluie Walk – Another breathtaking path clinging to the gorge-side
- Logie Steading River Walk – Slightly easier walk along the river
- Brodie Pond – a peaceful circuit around a historic castle water feature.
- Forres Footpaths Trust – 12 mapped routes in and around Forres
- Moray Coast Trail – a 50-mile walk along one of the world’s most stunning coastlines, starting in Forres
- Dava Way – A 22-mile walk along the old railway line from Forres to Grantown-on-Spey
- Findhorn Beach – walk along the beach or along the dunes on a tranquil sandy beach
- Culbin Forest – A forest originally planted on shifting dunes that has created an ecosystem full of wildlife
- Sanquhar Loch and Woodlands – a network of paths around a pond and into the woodlands
- Moray Ways – Details of all the walks which make up the Moray Way – Speyside Way, Dava Way and Moray Coast Trail
Cluny Hill and Grant Park
Forres is fortunate in having this beautiful area of parkland and the woodlands for all to enjoy. Cluny Hill and Grant Park form the centre of a network of walks for all abilities. A peaceful walk through these charming woodlands on a summer evening is just the thing before retiring. For the more energetic, go to the summit of Cluny Hill to visit the historic Nelson’s Tower. If the tower is open, you can go to the rooftop viewing platform for another excellent panorama.
