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FORRES AND ELGIN
A not too strenuous day tour with lots of things to
see along the way. This route uses the main road from Grantown on Spey to Forres, but an
alternative is available via the B9007 from near Carrbridge for those who don't mind
smaller roads!
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| From Newtonmore, take the old
A9 through Kingussie and Aviemore. After Aviemore, turn right
onto the A939 towards Grantown-on-Spey, go through Grantown and follow the road
towards Forres and Nairn, which goes over remote Dava Moor. Keep on the Forres road, and
after Dunphail, look out for the B9007 coming in at an angle
on your left. Take a short detour here by turning sharp left onto
the B9007 and after a steep descent and a bridge crossing, you will go up a short
steep hill on the other side of the bridge and see a large, rough lay-by on your left.
Pull in here. On the other side of the road, you will see a small gate onto a path which
takes you down to Randolph's Leap - a spectacular narrow
gorge in the River Findhorn, where Randolph was reputed to have leapt the river to escape
pursuing soldiers. As you walk down the path towards the river you will see a small stone
in the centre of the path, which marks the height of the River during the great flood of
1829. On looking down to the river, you will be astonished at the evident size of what
must have been a truly terrible flood. You can wander several paths through the woods and
along above the river before returning to the car and continuing your journey by turning
round and returning to the A939. |
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On arrival in Forres, turn right at the roundabout and drive through
Forres, stopping at the
east end to admire the spectacular floral display in the
Grant Park.
Carry on to Elgin on the A96 and stop to look round the ruins of
Elgin
Cathedral, burned by the infamous Wolf of Badenoch.
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The Gardens in Forres (c) Phil Banks |
Elgin Cathedral (c) Phil Banks |
There are several good places
to eat in Forres or Elgin, if you feel like a break. At the east end of Elgin, turn
right off the A96 towards Dufftown, joining the A939 and turning right, through Craigellachie and back to
Grantown.
At Grantown, if you feel like going back home a different way, you can turn onto the
Nethy Bridge road (just before arriving in Grantown) and follow
this through Boat of Garten to Coylumbridge, where you meet the road from Aviemore to the
ski area. Turn right here, then left towards Insh - follow
this road through Insh and eventually to Kingussie.
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< Day Tours
by Car Page
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