INVERNESS TO ABERDEEN

The A96 takes you the whole 10I miles on the direst route to Aberdeen but there are so many diversions worth taking if there is the time. From Inverness head east along the shore of the Morey Firth, the first diversion is at Newton. Take the B9039 through Castle Stuart and Fishcerton. Past Inverness (Dalcross) airport, to Campbeltown or Ardersier (Gaelic for Freedom), which is where many left for other lands during the Clearances) and ending at Fort George which stands proud at the mouth of the Moray Firth and still in Army use, but open to the public. Well worth a visit.

Back to Ardersier and turn left onto the B9092 to Nairn. Or you can carry on south until you get back to the A9 and then turn east passing the Muir of the Clans. There is also a fine Pottery shop. Then on to Nairn which is a lively little town with a pleasant beach and a favourite holiday center. It has a bustling main street with many fine shops and a railway station. Eastwards on the, A9, for 10 miles, to Forres, which isn't unlike Nairn, though inland from the sea. This is another bustling small town on the busy A9. There are some interesting ruins worthy of a search out. Foress was one the main Junction for the main lines from Aberdeen and Perth, with a large 'triangle' station. Once the cut-off line was built from Aviemore to Inverness via Carrbridge.

The 'Dava' line to Foress lost its importance and was closed in the Dr. Beeching era. The junction and branch in the Aberdeen direction is now the new bypass, with little left of the south platforms and with only the Aberdeen train serving the town, the once grand station is only a shadow of its former self. The large freight yard is reduced to a weed-ridden eyesore.

Between Foress and Elgin there is an interesting coastal divergence. Take the B9089 to just before the village of Kinross and turn northwards to Findhorn, which stands at the mouth of Findhorn Bay and overlooks the sweeping curve of Burghead Bay. There is sailing a caravan camp here.

Back to Kinloss on the B9089 to Burghead and interesting small fishing port with a long sandy beach. It is still connected with a freight line on what was the old Highland Alves to Hopeman branch. The Hopeman section is long gone but freight still runs to Burghead occasionally. There is caravan parking at Hopeman. There is a feeling of timelessness along this shoreline as you take the B9040 past Duffus (Duffus Castle two miles south) past Covesea and Halliman Scerries then into Lossiemouth.

Lossiemouth: The birthplace of Ramsey Macdonald is a pleasant seaside town built up around tourism. Nearby is Gordonstoun College that has educated generations of Royal children and families of the well to do. If you had taken the direct 12 mile run on the A9 from Foress to Elgin, it would have been much quicker but there is little to see as you pass through the Crook of Alves.

From Lossiemouth you take the A94 for the 3 miles into Elgin. Or if you wish to avoid Elgin then take the B9103 to meet the A9 just before Lanbryde.