Marc Hindley

Jun 17 2021

Forres is a walkers’ paradise

The Forres area abounds with walking routes, as does the whole of Moray. This is outdoor country and people come here just to walk the Moray Ways and take in the clean, fresh air. Whether it’s a stroll after dinner, or a more challenging mountain hike, there’s a wide range of routes to suit. And with a weather pattern that seems to repel the worst of the elements (most of the time), you’ll have no excuse to get that step-count up.

Forres is recognised by the ‘Walkers are Welcome’ scheme, which is a nationwide initiative to highlight places which are welcoming to walkers. Forres is recognised by this scheme of over 100 accredited towns and villages in the UK that support economic, physical, health and mental well-being through walking.

Forres footpaths

In and around the town, the Forres Footpaths Trust have created a number of waymarked routes that take in some local attractions and landmarks as well as highlighting other things of local interest such as engineering and military interest.

Most of these walks are detailed on the trust’s website, where you can choose from:

Mosset Walk
Town Walk
Grant Park/Cluny Hill
Sanquhar/Chapelton/Muiry
River Findhorn
Shorter river walk
Dyke/Kintessack
Califer and Rafford
Culbin East
Burn o’ Mosset and Altyre Burn
Aircraft and Military
Forres Engineering

See the Forres Footpaths Trust website for more details.

Most of these walks also have geocaches on them, and while some of them are waymarked with posts, not all of them are.

Walking festival

As if a testimony to the prevalence of walking here, an annual walking festival takes place in June.

The Moray Walking and Outdoor Festival brings together Moray’s finest treks and offers guided walks with a touch of added entertainment.

The walking festival set out as a few walks spread over three days, and by 2018 was hosting 60 events over 10 days, and many of these events sold out weeks in advance.

It is now one of Scotland’s principal outdoor activity festivals. This year, the events are split into June and September.

16th-23rd June 2021

16th-22nd September 2021

See Moray Walking Festival events, and if anything appeals, be quick as they do sell out fast.

Geocaching

If you don’t know what geocaching is, it’s a worldwide game where people hide mini boxes of valueless treasures, coins, trinkets, keepsakes, etc) usually in plastic sandwich boxes and hide them in the countryside. They are marked on a ‘geocache map’ and people follow clues to find them. Once found, you can record their find in the lunchbox by adding your username to the note and swap an item with one of their own.

The game is suitable for adults or children and sometimes draws you to exciting or interesting places. It’s a healthy pastime as it involves walking, and it’s also educational, fun for the kids, and if you get involved with the community, it can take you to new places. Geocaching meet-ups happen all over the world.

Geocaching has taken a bit of hit during the pandemic, but we have a geocaching pack to lend for anyone that’s interested in giving it a go. The pack includes a GPS locator, pen and paper as well as a few items you can leave or swap.

See geocaching.com for more details

Dava Way

If you want to walk further, Forres is the starting point for the Dava Way, a 22-mile track to Grantown-on-Spey, following the old railway track across the Dava Moor. It’s ranked as one of Scotland’s Great Walks and has many information boards along the way. The line was closed in the 1960s, and volunteers work tirelessly to maintain the track and improve accessibility.

As a former railway line, it is flat and fairly easy going. There has been a lot of work done to maintain the paths however there are some wet and muddy patches.

If you’re really fit, you can walk the whole route in one session.

Watch out for wildlife, there’s plenty to see. You’re crossing the wilderness of the Dava Moor where there is little in the way of human disturbance.

And anyone with an interest in wild flowers will have a slow walk!

See the davaway.org.uk for more details

Moray Coast Trail and Speyside Way

The Dava Way conveniently connects to two other ‘great walks’ the Moray Coast Trail and the Speyside Way, forming a 100-mile triangular path through the Moray landscape.

Each of these walks provides a different experience and while you don’t have to walk them from end-to-end, they are a great way to dip into the countryside and sample the landscape and history of the area.

These three trails really highlight the diversity of Moray Speyside. While the Dava Way heads through the barren remoteness of the Dava Moor, the Coastal Trail dips in and out of the coastline which is a mix of rocky outcrops, sandy beaches and hidden coves; and the Speyside Way tracks the path of least resistance for one of Scotland’s most famous river.

See morayways.org.uk for more details

Beat your own path

But of course you don’t have to stick to the path. There are plenty of deviations you can take, and while there will always be a beaten path to well-known spots and landmarks, choosing your own route takes you to places less well known and unexplored which is just as rewarding.

Other walking resources

There are numerous sites which detail walks around Forres and Moray

Apr 18 2021

Explore the Splendid and Ruined Castles of Moray

Forres is a the perfect place to start exploring the history of Moray, and there is no better place to start than by visiting the castles dotted around the region.

Forres Castle

We’ll start in the centre of town. Spoiler alert: there is no castle in Forres! However, a stronghold was sited here in the middle ages, and it was occupied at some point by none other than King Macbeth.

The site of the castle is now topped by a monument at the west end of the high street. There’s nothing there to even remark on it being the site of an ancient castle though. But it is a lovely part of the town with a tree-lined avenue and a nice place to take in the view.

The motte and bailey fort was destroyed in 850 by Vikings and was strengthened in the 14th century. It was demolished in 1297 by the adherents of Wallace.

Its royal visitors also include King William the Lion, King Alexander II of Scotland, King David II of Scotland. It was burned by Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan in 1390. and held by the Dunbars of Westfield until the 17th century when it fell into ruins.

Brodie Castle

Brodie Castle is the area’s most impressive castle. Originally built in 1567, it was destroyed by fire in 1645. Almost 200 years later, it was rebuilt and converted into a Scots Baronial mansion house. The original 16th century keep and towers remain.

The land has been in the Brodie family since 1160, and the castle was occupied by the Brodie family up to 2003, when it was gifted to the National Trust for Scotland.

The castle is open to the public for guided tours and has an extensive collection of antique furniture and paintings.

In the grounds is a national collection of daffodils, an award-winning visitor centre, a Victorian shrubbery and a recently-built play garden for children.

Duffus Castle

Duffus Castle was originally a motte and bailey style castle that was once one of the most secure fortifications in Scotland. It started as a wooden structure and was constantly modified, being finally replaced by a stone structure in the 1300s. However, by 1705, decay had made it uninhabitable and it was abandoned.

The motte refers to the mound, and the bailey is the large-diameter encircling wall.

Its most notable point of interest is that a whole section has succumbed to a landslip, yet the bond of the north wall has remained intact leaving a fully built portion of the castle to slide down and lodge at a significant angle to the remaining castle.

It is also unique in the area being elevated on the motte (mound), which may be presumed to be artificially-built since it rises out of the largely flat ‘laich’ of Moray. This might be why it collapsed!

Darnaway Castle

This castle is unfortunately not open to the public, but we’ve included it here as a historical reference. It sometimes opens as an event (such as Doors Open Day), so you may get a chance to glimpse inside at some point.

It is the home of the Earl of Moray, and has been in the family since it was given to Thomas Randolph, nephew of Robert the Bruce, who created him as the first earl.

Randolph was known for capturing Edinburgh Castle from the English, and also gave his name to nearby Randolph’s Leap, a narrow point between two cliff banks of the River Findhorn.

The castle was rebuilt in 1810, around the original banqueting hall, which can house 1000 people. It’s unfortunate that this building isn’t open to the public, as the roof over this part of the house is one of only two remaining original medieval structures of this type.

Ballindalloch Castle

Ballindalloch Castle is known as the “Pearl of the north”. It is a fine example of Scottish Z-plan castle and remarkably, two of the country’s finest rivers, the Spey and the Avon, flow through the grounds. It has been the family home of Macpherson-Grants since 1546, and continuously occupied since then, although like many castles, it was plundered and burned before being restored in 1645.

The castle is open to tourists in the summer months and houses an important collection of 17th century Spanish paintings. The dining room is said to be haunted by a ghost known as The Green Lady.^[3]

The grounds have a modern rock garden and a 17th-century dovecote.

Balvenie Castle

Further afield is another ruined castle, Balvenie. A few miles from Dufftown, the chequered timeline of ownership and abandonment is a history lesson in itself. It was latterly used by Hanoverian forces as an encampment in 1746 during the second Jacobite rebellion, and now owned by the Baron of Balvenie, Jeremy Duncan Nicholson, who lives in the United States. The castle is managed by Historic Environment Scotland and open from the beginning of April to the end of September.

Cawdor Castle

Cawdor has very little to link it to Forres, but both are mentioned in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. However, it is unlikely that Macbeth was actually connected with the castle. There is another link which we’ll come back to at the end.

Cawdor Castle is a very well preserved example of a tower house with significant additions in later years. It was first documented in 1454, however, the keep is thought to be earlier.

It is the keep which offers one of the castle’s most intriguing features – a tree that is still present in the ground, and the story goes that a donkey carrying gold lay down beside the tree, and the castle was built on that very spot. The remains of the tree have been carbon-dated to 1372, which supports the theory that the keep is older than the documented date.

The castle has extensive gardens, including a walled garden originally planted in the 17th century, a flower garden from the 18th century, and a wild garden added more recently in the 1960s. The grounds also feature more than 100 species of lichen and a woodlands.

There is a more solid link to the area. The iron gate that greets visitors comes from the now ruined Lochindorb Castle after it was forfeited by the Earl of Moray (see Darnaway Castle).

Lochindorb Castle

And that takes us neatly onto Lochidorb Castle, a ruined castle that almost entirely occupies the island on which it is built. The island is partially man-made which is why the castle fits the space so well.

Lochindorb Castle was a stronghold of the Comyn family and was captured by Edward I in 1303. Famously occupied by the ‘Wolf of Badenoch’ from 1372.

By 1455, it was in the ownership of the Earl of Moray. After his death, it was ordered to be destroyed, but all the walls have largely remained intact.

Check out the information on the beautiful Dunrobin Castle which is a little further afield but well worth a visit!

Apr 02 2021

Historical Castles, Battlefields And More Within Easy Reach Of Forres”

Heading west of Forres, towards Inverness, you will find many places of historical interest to visit during your stay in the area. You could possibly visit all of these in one day, however there is an awful lot to take in, so if you want to spend time absorbing the history you may want to plan a couple of days. All are within easy reach of Cluny Bank, not more than 30mins drive away.

Culloden Visitor Centre

Learn about the true history of the Jacobite Rising which began in 1745 and culminated in the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. As well as being able to see artefacts from both sides of the battle, the visitor centre has an immersive 360-degree experience which puts you right at the heart of the conflict. There are interactive displays, a gift shop and cafe within the centre.

Outside you will find the atmospheric battlefield, here you can walk along the actual battle lines of both the Government and the Jacobites and see the markers where the individual clans where buried.

If you are a fan of Outlander, Culloden Battlefield is a place that you must visit. You will also find the next port of call interesting.

Clava Cairns

Turn right as you exit Culloden Visitor Centre and you will see a sign for the Clava Cairns. Turn right at the signpost and carry on straight along the road until you come to a sign directing you to turn right. Here you will find a parking and picnic area as well as The Clava Cairns in a secluded woodland setting.

The Cairns are roughly 4000 years old and are made up of passage graves, a ring cairn, kerb cairn and standing stones, similar to those seen in Outlander! They have been well preserved and give an insight into societies during the Bronze Age. The cairns were believed to have been built to align with the midwinter sunset and are of true historical interest.

Fort George

Two years after the Battle of Culloden, work began to build Fort George in an effort to control the Scottish Highlands. Upon completion the fort was the largest and most powerful fortress in Northern Europe, however by 1769 the threat of a rising had dissipated and the fort was used for training purposes.

Today the fort remains virtually unaltered and is an active working fort, home to the Black Watch. Whilst some areas of the fort are restricted there is still plenty to see providing a fascinating insight into 18th Century military life. Walk around the main ramparts, which are more than 1km in length, that defend the forts vast area. The ramparts are also a good place to spot the Moray Firth Dolphins.

Cawdor Castle

This fairytale castle was built in the 15th century and is surrounded by stories, myths and legends. Some may be true but others have been discounted due to not falling within the timeline. The castle had additions and renovations take place in the 17th and 18th centuries including a courtyard, drawbridge and turrets.

The castle has been well kept and is still home to the Cawdor Family, however there is still a good amount of the castle to view. When visiting be sure not to miss the wonderful gardens. We visited on a beautiful summers day and have to say that the gardens were very impressive with several different defined areas. Cawdor also has a 9-hole golf course, a coffee shop and gift shop.

Mar 18 2020

Baked Biscoff Cheesecake

We usually have a short break in February and it has become a tradition that I do some baking with Alyx. This years choice was a Baked Biscoff Cheesecake. I have to ask the question as to why I did not know that Biscoff spread was a thing, it is something not to be missed if you have a sweet tooth. After posting the photo of the finished product on my own social media page, we had a few requests to share the recipe. We did use a recipe from delish.com with a couple of tweaks. We like a thick crust and we also came across a problem but we rectified it in this method.

For the Crust

125g melted butter
20 Biscoff biscuits
12 Digestive biscuits
      pinch of salt

For the Cheesecake

900g   cream cheese, softened
250g   sugar
1/2tsp salt 
4 large eggs
240ml double cream
60g sour cream
1tbsp vanilla extract
4tbsp Biscoff spread, heaped
5 Biscoff biscuits, crushed for garnish
4tbsp Biscoff spread, melted, for garnish

Directions

Make Crust

Depending on how thick a base/crust you like, feel free to increase or decrease biscuit quantities. As long as there is enough to cover the base of the pan it is ok. We like a thick crust and have accounted for this.

Set a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 180°C (160ºC fan). Butter a 23-cm springform pan and wrap bottom and sides of pan in a double layer of aluminium foil.
Place the Biscoff and Digestive biscuits in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin or something similar. We liked it a bit lumpy rather than smooth, you can use a food processor or blender if you want finer crumbs
Transfer the biscuit to a bowl, add melted butter a bit at a time. Using fork or fingers, mix until crumbs are evenly moist. You want it to be so the crumbs are sticking together but not too moist or too dry.
Press the mixture into the bottom of the springform pan. Place pan on a baking tray and bake crust for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 165°C (145ºC).

Make Cheesecake

In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat cream cheese until completely smooth. Add sugar and salt and beat until smooth and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition and scraping down bowl as necessary. I have taken out the recommended beating times here as they just did not work. We found the mixture became as runny if not runnier than single cream but we continued beating until it became more like lightly whipped runny cream.
Add double cream, sour cream, and vanilla and beat until fully incorporated.
We slightly melted the Biscoff spread in the microwave, you don’t want to melt too much as we wanted the cheesecake to have bits clearly visible and running through the mixture. If you melt too much it will just blend with the mixture. Gently fold in Biscoff spread. Pour cheesecake batter into cooled crust.
Bring a medium saucepan full of water to a boil. Place cheesecake in a deep roasting pan and set on middle rack of oven. Carefully pour enough boiling water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of springform pan. Bake until cheesecake is just starting to brown and only the centre is slightly jiggly, 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn off oven, prop open door with a wooden spoon, and let cheesecake slowly cool in water bath, 1 hour.
Remove roasting pan from oven, then carefully lift springform pan from water and remove foil. Set cheesecake on a rack and let come to room temperature. Once completely cool, loosely cover with cling film and refrigerate until firm, 4 hours or up to overnight.
When ready to serve, carefully unmould from springform pan. Sprinkle cheesecake top with crushed biscuits and drizzle with melted Biscoff spread.
Enjoy 🙂

Feb 21 2020

Salmon Fishing On The Scenic River Findhorn

The majestic River Findhorn is undoubtedly one of Scotland’s best kept fishing secrets – both in terms of beauty and productivity – in an anglers’ quest for the Atlantic Salmon. Nestled between the world famous and most mighty river to all Salmon anglers – the Spey, and the city of Inverness which is regarded as the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands – its location could not be more idyllic. This is a true bucket-list trip for any Salmon angler!

In a very well documented, tough decade for the Atlantic Salmon, the Findhorn manages to maintain an incredible population of returning adults, thanks to its remoteness – flowing from the north face of the Scottish Highlands. With very little surrounding farmland and a steep and canyon-style river through its mid-section this prevents habitat degradation and preserves the home of the juveniles up to their smolting phase.

Flowing and twisting through high canyon walls, the River finally enters the saltwater through the Bay of Findhorn and into the Moray Firth. The Moray is often quoted as the UK’s most prolific Firth – accounting for apprx. 25% of all returning Salmon in the entire British Isles – a figure that is sure to whet the appetite of all Salmon enthusiasts…

When to fish

Fishing starts on the River very early, with opening day usually set for 11^th February. Being located in the Far-north of the UK, the river benefits from an earlier run of fish than all of the southern systems. Fresh, Bright, Silver Spring fish are often caught in February and March, yet as the Equinox passes, the run of fish begins to increase with April, May and June being the ‘best’ window for the chance at larger Springers. Fish of 20lb are not uncommon on this small but intimate system and offer a challenge for anglers of all skillsets when hooked!

Leading into summer July sees the start of the Grilse run, typically smaller fish in the 4-9lb class – with vast pods of fish entering the system in unison the sport can be incredible – if you are lucky enough to time your visit alongside an influx of fresh water. August is typically a lower water month, but fish now can be found in most pools and sight-casted to on bright sunny days. September brings cooler climes and increased water flows, all of which are a trigger to the Salmon’s aggression… Although most fish are now dressed in their spawning, tartan colours the river often delivers unprecedented catches with lucky anglers in its final month before the season closes.

Where to fish

Being one of the longest rivers in Scotland there are many areas for the angler to target, but with any river it is best broken into sections; lower, middle and upper.

Lower sections of river are always the most lucrative throughout the season as all fish must pass through them on their migration, yet they are essential targets in the early phases of a season from Feb-April. As the water warms in April fish begin to move through the canyon, and as such the middle section can be very prolific from later Spring/early Summer. Moving into Summer fish will be found throughout the entirety of the river, populating most pools awaiting fresh, cooler water to continue their journey to the headwaters.

Lovers of the Findhorn often boast that there is a chance of a fresh fish on every single day of the season, so be sure to give the river a try, no matter what time of year that you visit! If your fly is in the water, you always have a chance here…

Fishing tickets/access

The town of Forres is a short 30 minute drive east from Inverness airport or a 30 minute drive north from the (middle) River Spey. The River Findhorn flows through the town and has miles of fabulous fishing within 20-30mins drive from the hotel.

As with all Salmon fishing in Scotland there is no Salmon fishing on Sundays, and permits/permission to fish must be purchased before doing so.

Tickets for fishing can be purchased online at:

Thanks to Paul Richardson, who designs fishing equipment and guides fishing tours all over the world, for writing this blog and providing photographs. He has some fantastic images of his travels on his Instagram page.

Take a look at our rooms and restaurant menu.