Forres to Burghead

Summary

The Moray Coast Trail officially starts at Forres and follows minor roads and cycleway to reach the sea at Findhorn - this section could be avoided by taking a bus. The route then follows the coast along tree covered dunes to Roseisle forest, populated by red squirrels, before the stage ends at the old fishing village of Burghead.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

2.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Minor roads with pavement, shared cycle path, tracks and paths through dunes.

Public Transport

Forres is served by buses and trains; bus services to Findhorn and Burghead.

Start

Forres. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 22.5km / 14 miles
Time: 5 - 5.5 hours
Ascent: 48m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NJ037589

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (3)

Stage 1

From the ancient Tolbooth in the centre of Forres High Street head west (away from the Co-op and past Bothy Bikes) before turning right down Gordon Street. Turn left to cross the Mosset Burn on the footbridge and keep right to reach the A96. Carefully cross this and turn left along the pavement to pass the railway station. Turn right to climb the road bridge over the railway and at the T junction turn right. Continue ahead passing Benromach Distillery and follow Waterford Road as it bends left and heads through farmland. Stay on this ignoring farm entrances and pass the back of Findhorn Bay, a good birdwatching area. Eventually the B9011 is reached, turn left here following the shared cycleway on the pavement. At Kinloss there are traffic lights and a Spar shop.

Stage 2

Turn left (signed for Findhorn) and continue along the pavement / cyclepath. As the village is left behind the ex RAF base is on the opposite side of the road, whilst the mudflats of Findhorn Bay are away to the left. After another 2km there is a parking area on the left with a bird hide overlooking the flats. Once at the houses on the outskirts of Findhorn, keep left at the fork with the war memorial to stay on the waterside road, soon passing the old harbour on a path to the left of the road. If you need to visit the shop it is on the parallel road just inland, adjacent to a cafe. Otherwise continue along the front until a sign indicates a right turn just before a field of sailing boats (if you want to visit the boatyard cafe or walk around the spit of land, known as the Ee, jutting into the estuary keep straight ahead and keep the water on your left to rejoin the main route at the Dunes car park). At the next road junction turn left, signed for the Heritage Centre.

Stage 3

Turn right onto the signed route along the near side of the heritage centre (note the ice house across the road). Almost immediately fork left (signed) to head through the area just behind the dunes and beach, eventually reaching a large car park. At the far end leave on the exit road, soon forking left onto a signed path across stony ground. Keep following the marker posts, passing quite close to wind turbines and keeping left at a signed junction. Eventually the perimeter fence of the airfield is seen. Keep left here to come closer to the coast once more and just before the edge of the dune and the shore turn right along a signed path next to the airfield fence. Old tank traps and pill boxes can be seen part-submerged on the sand below. Keep on the top of the cliff, heading through the edge of a forestry plantation with some open views along the curve of sand to Burghead in the distance.

Stage 4

Turn right at a sharp bend to follow a fence inland through the trees for a short distance and then bear left onto a forestry track. Stay on this main track, ignoring any paths and tracks off. Ignore the gate with the radar tower visible behind and stay in the trees. Go straight across at a crossroads with a small water tank to run alongside a felled area on the right. Stay on the main track which curves slightly right and then turns left to continue along a very straight section a little way back from the sea. Soon a bird hide is passed on the right, this is a good place for a rest and the chance to watch wildlife including red squirrels. Keep straight ahead at the crossroads with a bench on the left and soon the car park at Roseisle is reached where there are toilets and BBQs.

Stage 5

Continue in a straightline through the large car park, passing immediately to the right of the toilets, to reach a track with a gate and signpost for Burghead. The track leads through mature Scots pine plantations, reaching another signed junction after 2km. A left turn here leads to the beach and an alternative continuation to Burghead unless the tide is high. Otherwise keep right as signed, and then left at the next junction to follow the old Burma Road to Burghead, originally built by prisoners of war.

Stage 6

At yet another junction continue straight ahead. The track soon becomes a good path and winds between a strange landscape of hummocky forest, evidence of the fact that the trees are all planted on old sand dunes. Eventually the route emerges at a caravan site - go straight ahead to reach a tarred lane. Turn right here and then left on the concrete near the sea, before a right turn leads up Park Street into Burghead. Be sure to visit the headland here, once the site of an important Pictish fort.

Next stage: Burghead to Lossiemouth

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