Rafford Parish Church

The walk up to Rafford Parish Church rewards you with sweeping views across the Moray landscape - it's the kind of spot where you genuinely understand why someone chose to build here centuries ago. The church itself is a modest stone structure, but what strikes you is the quiet. Not many folk make the pilgrimage out from Forres, which means you get the place largely to yourself on most days.

It's worth visiting if you're into Scottish ecclesiastical architecture or simply fancy a countryside stroll with purpose. Families with older children will manage the walk easily enough, though younger ones might find the journey more interesting than the destination itself. The churchyard has some character - old gravestones weathered by Highland weather, and the surrounding moorland feels properly remote despite being just a few miles from the town.

You're looking at a solid twenty to thirty minutes to get the most of it - walk up, have a poke around, absorb the view, and head back down. There's no visitor centre or tea shop, so bring water. If you're camping at The Loft Glamping & Camping nearby, this makes for a decent morning or afternoon excursion without eating up half your day.

The church itself doesn't demand hours of your time, but the walk up there and the panorama justify the detour if you're exploring Aberdeenshire. Go when the weather's decent - there's nothing worse than trudging uphill in drizzle just to squint at a locked church door.