Ray recalls his memories of accident-prone pooch for new book ‘A Whippet Called Seb’

A dogged collector of canine figurines has written a memoir of owning an accident-prone pooch, recalling all the scrapes and near-misses they both got into back in the eighties. Ray McDonald, who now runs Keepsakes on Forres high street, where he sells some of his massive catalogue of collectables, has gathered up the ‘tails’ of … Read more

Cluny Hill mansion goes on the market for offers over £625,000

The sprawling 76-bedroom mansion that sits on Cluny Hill has gone on the market this week for £625,000. Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has been instructed by the Findhorn Foundation to market the property, a former spiritual and wellness centre, hotel and hydropathic establishment in Forres. Set in 6.5 acres of secluded woodland … Read more

Have you tried the new Forres outdoor gym?

Forres Community Sports Hub is inviting locals to try the new £72,000 outdoor gym. The gym, which originally opened in December 2023, is behind Forres Academy and Forres Swimming Pool and includes multi-station and multi-user exercise pieces for a full body workout. The public are invited to drop by the gym on Monday 22 April … Read more

In the centenary year of Grant Park comes the Forres kilt with a digestive biscuit ‘baked’ in

A local woman who specialises in making bespoke kilts has designed a Forres-inspired tartan with a twist. Andrea Chappell’s new plaid is the first of four designs based on the seasons, that will make up a quartet of fabrics focussed on the town’s colours. The first batch, depicting winter, takes colours from the Grant Park, … Read more

Leanchoil Hospital

Leanchoil project gets £93k heritage funding to move forward with plans

Leanchoil Trust has secured £93,650 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support their plans to save and transform Leanchoil Hospital. The Trust’s ‘Leanchoil – Growing Wellbeing from Heritage’ project aims to save the historic B-listed Leanchoil Cottage Hospital in Forres, Moray, for the community and repurpose it as a centre for community health and … Read more

Expanding sawmill opens new clothing and gift shop at Logie Steading

A local sawmill has opened a retail shop selling clothing, gifts, wood and outdoor living accessories. Logie Timber, which is based on the A940 at Dunphail, has launched its new outlet at Logie Steading, just a couple of miles away. Logie Timber Supplies joins other independent retailers at the popular steading, in the heart of … Read more

Support needed – literally – for Town Hall refurb as workers uncover ‘rotten’ beam

Forres Area Community Trust has launched an urgent appeal to townsfolk to help them quickly raise £20,000 to pay for unforeseen work in the redevelopment of the Town Hall. Builders working on the refurbishment of the building have found a beam that doesn’t have the strength needed to support the structural work, and needs to … Read more