St Margaret

The old kirk at St Margaret sits quietly on its own near Forres, the sort of place you'd only find if you were properly exploring the backroads rather than sticking to the main A96. It's a modest stone church, nothing flashy, but there's something rather moving about standing inside and realising you're looking at centuries of local worship in one room.

The building itself is genuinely ancient - we're talking medieval foundations here - though it's been patched up and cared for over the centuries. The interior is straightforward: plain whitewashed walls, simple pews, the kind of working parish church that's been doing its job quietly for longer than most villages have existed. If you're into ecclesiastical architecture you'll spot the period details; if you're just after a moment's peace, you'll find that too.

It's the sort of visit that works best if you're already in the area rather than driving specifically for it. Couple it with a walk around Forres itself - there's proper history layered through that town - or base yourself at The Loft Glamping & Camping nearby and explore the broader Moray countryside on foot. The church won't eat up more than twenty minutes, but that's rather the point. Not everything needs to be a four-hour expedition.

Worth a stop if you're heading through Aberdeenshire and enjoy finding the places that don't make the tourist board glossies.