The village of Fochabers sits on the banks of the River Spey. The town is world-famous for their soups, jams and jellies from their family-owned and run business, Baxters.
Fochabers is full of charm and is rich in musical and cultural history. With a little over 1700 residents, the village is quiet but still has many sights to seen and many activities to take part in.
The best of Moray Speyside is on the doorstep here and is a great place to explore the area.
Exploring Fochabers
Fochabers is centrally located within Speyside which makes the town extremely popular. The village sits directly off the A96, the main road linking Inverness and Aberdeen. This also has the benefit of regular Stagecoach buses.
Due to its location in the valley of the River Spey, Fochabers has incredible nature paths tailored for walkers and cyclists. The nearby Winding Walks and mountain bike Monster Trails are an exciting way to spend an hour or an afternoon. Explore this maze of woodland trails through what used to be the Duke of Gordon’s garden.
Fochabers is a stop on the Speyside Way. This is a recognized as a Long Distance Trail (LDT) paralleling the River Spey. It is popular with locals and visitors and paths are suitable for both walking and cycling. Sections can be broken down into smaller treks to suit the abilities of any vacation.
There are a number of smaller walks for those of you looking for a light circular walk. Behind the Green Door is a highly picturesque walk based in the grounds of Gordon Castle. There is also the Fochabers Burn and the Belt Path which take around 30 min and are ideal for quick morning walk to start the day.
Accommodation in Fochabers
Fochabers is an excellent, family-friendly base for your Speyside adventure. It’s a quiet and cosy retreat for your holiday. There are great hotels such as The Grant Arms Hotel, The Gordon Arms Hotel and The Red Lion Tavern that are ideal for tourists.
For a less traditional stay-over, check-out Braehead Glamping and Burnside Caravan Site. Book into a local B&B or guest house for a more personal experience. For those looking for secluded respite, consider one of Fochabers’ many self-catered options.
Things to do in and around Fochabers
A trip to Scotland wouldn’t be complete without a quintessential Scottish experience. Golfers are spoiled for choice; eight golf courses are within 10 miles of the village including Elgin Golf Course and Moray Golf Club.
The River Spey is one of the big four Scottish salmon fishing rivers. Fochabers Angling Association, Orton Estate, and Gordon Castle Estate offer guidance and bespoke guided experiences.
Head over to Christies of Fochabers and enjoy a delightful lunch before or after exploring the wonderful selection of plants and gardening equipment. Byres Farm Spey Bay and The WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre offer great learning experience and an amazing day out for all the family.
Useful Links
Undiscovered Scotland – Fochabers, Undiscovered Scotland Page.
Get Outside – Walking, Cycling, Running Trails in and Around Fochabers.