Sanquhar Loch – Round the Water, Then Lunch in Forres
About 1.2 miles on foot.
Sanquhar Loch is a small tree-lined loch on the south side of Forres, with a signposted path all the way round it.
The circuit is 2 km and takes half an hour, with ducks, coots and swans for company. It is a short one, so make a morning of it with lunch on the High Street afterwards.
- Time
- About half an hour: a signposted circuit of 2 km (a mile and a quarter), easy and generally level.
- The path
- Mainly gravel paths that can be muddy, generally level, with tree roots in places and steps at the footbridge. Not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies.
- Where to start
- Start at Forres Leisure Centre on Burdsyard Road and walk up Sanquhar Road to the board at the loch.
- When to go
- All year: the loch has birds on it in every season. From mid October to March the path is muddy for days after rain.
- Children
- Short and level, with birds to watch. Keep small children close at the water's edge.
- Before you set out
- There is open water beside the path all the way round.
The walk
Sanquhar Loch lies under tall trees on the south side of Forres, and a signposted path goes all the way round it. The circuit is 2 km, a mile and a quarter, mostly on level gravel, and takes half an hour. It is a walk for watching the water.
Ducks, coots and swans are on the loch at any time of year, and a small timber jetty and open stretches of bank give clear views across it. At one end the water spills over a broad stone weir. A board beside Sanquhar Road, where the path reaches the loch, tells you about the place.
The path can be muddy after rain, and tree roots cross it in places, so watch your feet. A footbridge on the way round has steps, which means the circuit doesn't suit a wheelchair or a buggy. It is short enough to fit in before lunch in the town.
If it rains
The trees give some shelter and the circuit is short, but the path turns muddy quickly. On a wet day, go to lunch first and see if it clears.
Afterwards
About 16 min on foot
Cafe 1496
Lunch
Cafe 1496 is at 79 High Street, in the middle of Forres, about a quarter of an hour's walk from the loch. Breakfast is served all day, the coffee is roasted locally and it's licensed from 11am. It's open every day, and the kitchen closes at 3.30pm, or 3pm on Sundays, so lunch is best before then. You can book a table on its website, and dogs are welcome. Over Christmas and New Year, check before going.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Culbin Edge, 4 miles away. Sleeps 4; next free Mon 9 Nov to Wed 11 Nov.
Where to eat
Cafe 1496, a café in Forres.
For further reading, before you go.
Photographs by Robert Paterson and Angela Williams via Google