The Herald - The Herald Magazine
Moray magic Fine town and country walk
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IT’S always good to come across a community which takes pride in its heritage and offers a genuine welcome to visitors, and this feeling was very much in evidence when my wife and I stopped in Forres. The Morayshire town has a neat and tidy appearance and it is no surprise to find that it has won prizes in the Britain in Bloom contest on a regular basis.
The Forres Heritage Trust plays an active role in conserving and publicising the best of the past and the local Footpaths Trust is doing great work in enabling both locals and visitors to enjoy the countryside which surrounds the town, as I’m sure it will continue to do as lockdown lifts.
These two aspects of past and present are nicely combined in this walk, which explores several areas of beautiful mature woodland before reaching its climax at an imposing monument to a hero.
The walk starts from the Victoria Road car park which could easily be reached by walking from the town centre through the park with its amusing animal sculptures.
You are immediately into very fine woodland with many splendid trees soaring above you; at one point you walk downhill through a very impressive avenue of conifers.
The paths are in excellent condition and the walk is well marked with yellow arrows.
The route is quite convoluted but follow the arrows and you shouldn’t go wrong.
The walk emerges from the woods to follow the sparkling Mosset Burn, whose waters are used in the production of whisky at Benromach Distillery, which can be visited. You soon reach Sanquhar Loch, a beautiful stretch of water with plenty of birdlife. The name of the loch is intriguing; I have not been able to establish a link between this place and the town in Dumfriesshire
spread through Britain and this is one of a considerable number of impressive monuments to the onearmed admiral.
Erected in 1812, it has inevitably had a somewhat chequered life but is now firmly in the hands of the Forres Heritage Trust, working in partnership with Moray Council and other bodies. The 21-metre tower can be climbed by an internal spiral stone staircase and the view from the top is magnificent.
The tower is open from 2pm to 4pm daily from April to September (check for current restrictions before you go) and is staffed by volunteers eager to tell you more about it.
It is one of only four ‘climbable’ Nelson monuments and is not surprisingly the most northerly of these (the others are in Edinburgh, Great Yarmouth in Norfolk and – as unexpected a location as Forres – Paxton’s Tower near Llanarthney in midWales.
As you gaze out over the Moray countryside and coast from the top of the tower you can say a word of thanks to those who help keep such places in good shape. Long may they prosper.
ROGER SMITH