Moray's Hidden Heritage

Visit the hidden gems and the more quirky off the beaten track heritage of Moray.  Discover spectacular views and underground wells, witches stones and crouching devils.  Explore the hidden heritage of Moray.

Randolphs Leap
Dare you leap this spectacular gorge?  Named after the sneaky escape of a group of the enemies of Randolph, Earl of Moray, in the 14th century.  Look for the stones marking the flood levels, when the River Findhorn rose 15m during the floods of 1829.
www.walkhighlands.co.uk

Witch's Stone
Contemplate crime and punishment ancient and modern.  Outside the Forres Police Sation is a stone marking the grave of one of the three witches who bewitched King Duncan in 960 AD.  The witches were rolled down Cluny Hill in spiked barrels, the barrel and its contents were then set alight.
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk

Nelson Tower
Climb Cluny Hill and then the ninety steps to the top of Nelson Tower, built in 1806 to commemorate Admiral Lord Nelson and his victory at Trafalgar. See the superb view of Forres, Findhorn Bay and the Moray Firth.
www.morayconnections.com/nelson-tower

Forres in Bloom
Beavers, squirrels and bears made of flowers?  Climb the viewing platform to see the true splendour of the peacock's tail.  Visit these award winning floral sculptures in Grant Park during the summer months.
www.forresinbloom.co.uk

Burghead Well
Walk down a flight of steps into an underground chamber, which houses a rock tank fed by springs.  Who created the well and why- was it used for religious baptism ceremonies or just for drinking water?
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Culbin Forest
Get a squirrel’s-eye view of the world, high in the treetop canopy, and look out over the trees and sand dunes to the Moray Firth and beyond.
www.forestry.gov.uk

Findhorn Ecovillage
Take a tour around the ecovillage and living machine sewage treatment system.  You might be lucky and see inside a house built from a recycled whisky barrel.
www.ecovillagefindhorn.com

Pluscarden Abbey
Join the Benedictine monks in celebrating the service of Compline at 8.05pm each day, and experience a religious devotion unchanged from medieval times with Gregorian chants sung by candlelight.
www.pluscardenabbey.org

Elgin Cathedral
Wander around the ruins of this magnificent 13th century Cathedral, burnt to the ground by the Wolf of Badenoch in the 14th century. Climb the steps made of recycled gravestones to the Towers for a spectacular view over Elgin.
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Keith Police Station
Look out for 'Old Nick' crouching on the roof of this Victorian police Station, built in 1893. Is he guarding the prisoners in the cells, and who stole him and then put him back?
www.tourofkeith.co.uk

Auld Brig, Keith
Built in 1609 over the River Isla to carry the main road north, it is just wide enough for horses and pedestrians to use. Imagine the scenes it has witnessed during hundreds of years, including Daniel Defoe on his wanderings and Jacobite troops .
www.tourofkeith.co.uk

Craigellachie Bridge
This is the oldest surviving iron bridge in Scotland. Thomas Telford listened to the locals when designing the bridge and built it higher than planned.  It withstood the floods of 1829, when the River Spey rose by nearly 5 m.
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk

Lecht Mine
The largest manganese mine in Scotland, first opened during the 1730’s to mine iron ore for smelting in Nethy Bridge. In the 1840’s it supplied manganese, shipped from the Moray coast to Newcastle and used in the manufacture of household bleach.
www.glenlivetestate.co.uk

Cullen Skink
A heritage treat for your stomach and a local delicacy.  Make sure you try some of this flavoursome smoked haddock soup when you are in the area.
http://en.wikipedia.org/

Cullen Viaduct
Walk along the old railway line high above the picturesque village of Cullen and look for dolphins out to sea.  The railway was built on a viaduct as the local landowner of the time, the Countess of Seafield, refused to allow the track to pass through the grounds of her house.
www.routes2ride.org.uk/