Sanquhar Loch and Nelson Tower, Forres

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Forres is blessed with some beautiful pockets of woodland that reach almost into the heart of this fine town. Many of them are explored on this waymarked circular that feels like it is much further out in the countryside.

Terrain

Good footpaths throughout; a few waymarkers missing.

Public Transport

Forres is served by buses and trains.

Start

Victoria Road car park, Forres. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

Users' reports

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Currently 2.88/58

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Park at the Victoria Road car park, just to the east of the town centre; it is signed for the Nelson Tower. This walk is waymarked throughout with yellow arrows. Begin up the track at the back of the car park, with a fence on your left. Keep ahead to head up the steps that lead to the left up into the woods. These lead to a broad path; turn briefly left along this and then right up some more steps. Keep ahead, bearing left onto another broad path which curves left uphill through the trees. The path now climbs gently round the eastern slopes of the finely wooded Cluny Hill; topped by the memorial Tower (not in view from here), a much-loved Forres landmark. A visit to the tower is left until the end of the walk. For now, ignore a first path off to the right and then take a very sharp left turn further on - this is well-waymarked. Turn right at the next junction and continue along an obvious avenue of conifers. Soon there is a deep depression to the right of the route - Helgy's Hole; ignore minor paths that lead down into this.

Stage 2

Turn right at a junction, still keeping above Helgy's Hole on your right, to soon reach a cross-roads of routes. Turn left here downhill; it becomes a tarmac lane, eventually passing a beautiful house (on your left) before emerging on St Leonard's Road. Cross this and take the track opposite. This becomes a path between houses and leads down towards a suburban road. At the road turn left on the path that is initially alongside a wall. It soon leads into the woods. Follow this as it curves right and descends steps to reach the lovely Mosset Burn. Turn right on the path alongside the burn; this soon flows into Sanquhar's Loch. Continue to reach a parking area and road.

Stage 3

Turn left along the road, passing the outflow weir; there are usually ducks and swans. Turn left again onto a path before the first house, soon forking right to climb above the loch. When it forks again keep right, uphill, to join and continue along a track ahead. Go straight ahead when this meets a minor road to enter the Sanquhar Woodlands, owned by a local trust. Keep an eye out for deer on the next section. Ignore a couple of paths off to the left, then bear left at a fork (300m after entering the woods) with an open area off to your right - the waymarker is missing here. After another 200m take a left just before the end of the woods - watch for the marker. When the path forks keep right; The route climbs through the trees; take a right turn (marked) at the next junction. The path comes close to the edge of the woods and has good views out across the farmland - bear left, passing a bench at one point.

Stage 4

The path leads eventually to a descent - either in a gentle zig-zag or directly down steps - to a lengthy wooden footbridge over the Mosset Burn. Cross this and follow the zig-zag up to above the bank on the far side. Now turn left, keeping the drop on your left and a fence on the right, and soon reach the whitewashed Chapelton Farm. Note the old galleried barn on the left side of the path. Pass the farmhouse and go straight ahead along a tarred lane. This emerges on St Leonard's Road opposite the lovely architecture of the former Leanchoill Hospital. Turn right along the road - there is a walkway alongside and continue until just after the last house on the left. Turn left through the small Council Wood car park, and go straight ahead on the track from the far end, past a plan of the Muiry woodlands (ignore the walk sign pointing right).

Stage 5

Keep ahead at a cross-paths. Eventually, at a signed junction, turn left onto a smaller path that winds between the Scots pines, eventually reaching a cross-roads of routes; again turn left as signposted, and finally left again at a T-junction. This is an old right of way; continue along it; there are now good open views to the right towards Findhorn. Keep ahead, passing along the edge of a housing estate, to emerge on a road at the cemetery. Turn right and follow the road uphill, passing the modern building which now serves as a baptist church.

Stage 6

Just after a bend to the right between stone walls a signed path goes off to the left. Take this; at the next junction it rejoins the outward route. Turn right here, and then sharp right at the next junction to retrace your steps. The way back is soon signed off to the right. Before taking this turn it is well worth detouring to visit Nelson's Tower from here by continuing ahead and eventually taking a sharp left turn and then another left to climb up to it. Commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar, the tower is open to the public in the summer usually for a couple of hours each afternoon. There are great views across the Moray Firth. Otherwise, follow the signs which lead down the two flights of wooden steps to return to the car park.

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Sanquhar Loch and Nelson Tower, Forres

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Terrain

Public Transport

Start

Users' reports

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