The story behind Randolph’s Leap is a misnomer. As you’ll discover, in the story of a chase between two fighting families, the jumper was Alexander Cumming, and Randolph likely stayed on the bank, and watched his target escape into the woods. The story is one of the most famous in the area, and the history … Read more
There is a quiet satisfaction to be had at Roseisle, one of the Moray coast’s more rewarding spots. A walk through the coastal forest will in time open up, with little fanfare, onto an expanse of beach. It is a landscape that begs to be repeated: forest, then beach, and so on. The transitions are … Read more
Culbin Forest is an expanse of pine and dune running along the coast from Nairn to Findhorn Bay, all criss-crossed by gravel track. It covers thousands of acres and, if we are being honest, you get half its appeal by just choosing a path and making your way to wherever it takes you. There is … Read more
There’s a particular kind of satisfaction in covering the ground on a route that has long since been superseded by newer ways of doing things. The Dava Way is a case in point. This 24-mile trail from Forres to Grantown-on-Spey is a fine example of how to repurpose industrial heritage into something of striking diversity. … Read more
There is a tendency to view a castle estate as something of a relic, all grand rooms and formal lawns with their stories kept behind velvet ropes. Brodie Castle does not give off that air. For families in search of both quiet and a bit of wonder, it is far more welcoming. Tucked into the … Read more
If you have an hour to spare and would rather not be in the car, this is where to head. Sanquhar Pond is less than a mile from the High Street, set in a patch of woodland on the south side of town that most visitors never come across because they are not pointed in … Read more
Where the industry is ever more driven by global demand and the efficiencies of scale, Benromach prefers to go about things in a different manner. Located on the fringes of Speyside not far from Forres, this unassuming operation has made an art of restraint. With its limited output and hands-on methods, the distillery has a … Read more
There is a certain singularity to Dallas Dhu in the Scottish whisky scene. One would be hard pressed to find another distillery quite like it, not because of what it produces, but for the way it is poised between the present and bygone days. Those with an appreciation for history will find more here than … Read more
One does not come to Scotland and be taken aback by the rain. It is as much a part of the scenery here as the hills, an atmospheric punctuation mark that lends its moody beauty to Moray and the Highlands. But for those in Forres, the familiar drizzle should not be cause for any letdown. … Read more
For those putting together a stay in Moray, Forres is hard to beat as a home base. It is compact and welcoming, yet its position between the coast, the countryside and the Highland landmarks gives it an advantage over some of the bigger destinations: you get straightforward access to a great deal without the bother … Read more