Forres Area Guide

Situated on the Moray coast, Forres is one of Scotland’s oldest, and arguably most picturesque, towns. In fact, the town takes its attractiveness so seriously that it’s won several Britain in Bloom and Scotland in Bloom competitions for its beautiful floral displays.

Of course, looks aren’t everything, and Forres has much more to offer than just a pretty face. Whether you’re a whisky-lover, adrenaline addict or history buff, there’s something for you in Forres; so if you’re thinking of moving any time soon, there’s plenty of reasons to put it on your considerations list.

Things to see and do

If you love whisky and have always wondered how it’s made, you’ll probably want to pay a visit to Benromach Distillery and Malt Whisky Centre. It’s the smallest working distillery in Moray, as only two distillers work to lovingly create the gorgeous single malt Scotch whisky. You can go on an intimate tour to see all the processes in action, find out more about the distillery inside its very own museum and even take part in a tasting session. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to hand-fill your very own unique bottle of whisky.

Whisky’s not everyone’s cup of tea though, so instead why not take some time to educate yourself. The Falconer Museum, which is home to the archives and fossils of Hugh Falconer, a colleague of Charles Darwin, is the perfect place to learn more about the town’s local history. It’s not somewhere you can only expect to visit just once either, as the temporary exhibitions change on a regular basis and special family activities are hosted here during the holidays.

Those who love to stay active and try new things will not doubt be spending countless weekends at the Loft Activity Centre at East Grange Farm. You can battle it out with your friends in combat laser tag, take the plunge and zip down a zip wire, or embrace your inner Robin Hood with some archery lessons. If you have little ‘uns and you think quad biking might be a bit dangerous for them, there are younger activities to enjoy too, such as grass sledging. With all this, who needs snow?

Local environment

Forres has its fair share of green spaces, and Grant Park is one of its prettiest. Here you’ll find traditional gardens and stunning floral sculptures to walk around and enjoy. Children can run around as they please and make use of the park’s play equipment. Adults, on the other hand, have access to a cricket pitch and bowling green, both of which are run by the local community. If you fancy a stroll in the woodlands, from here you can walk to Cluny Hill.

The nearby River Findhorn is a great place to go salmon fishing if you’re a keen angler. If not, simply take the whole family out for a picnic here one Sunday afternoon, as there are plenty of great spots.

Schools and shopping

If you have children, you’ll want to ensure they go to a great school. Luckily there are plenty to choose from in Forres. Some have very different teaching styles, such as Moray Steiner School, which doesn’t believe in testing its younger students and encourages practical learning as much as academic. Pilmuir Primary School, on the other hand, has an open-plan design and lots of great facilities, such as a computer suite, two library areas, six teaching areas and pre-school unit.

In the town centre, there’s a huge variety of high-street and independent shops. Here you can do your big food shop, buy all of your Christmas presents, and easily enjoy a meal or drink out afterwards. When you’re in Forres, there really is no need to go anywhere else.