Logie Steading Visitor Centre

Originally built as a model farm in the 1920's, Logie Steading has now been converted to welcome visitors to the tranquil Findhorn Valley, near the well-known walks at Randolph's Leap.

Specialising in promoting Scottish craftsmanship and produce, Logie Steading makes an interesting day out for individuals or groups, with a wide variety of things to see and enjoy; from fashion textiles to country antiques, paintings and jewellery to secondhand books, prime Longhorn beef to hardy plants, there is something for everyone, not forgetting the acclaimed café where all the delicious food is cooked on site.

The gardens of Logie House are open every day, as is the playground and the spectacular walk along the River Findhorn.

Logie Steading is 14 miles from the Steading holiday cottage:

http://www.logie.co.uk/logiesteading.html

Forres in Bloom

Forres lies within the temperate climate of the Moray Firth in Scotland. It is a traditional market town with a rich cultural and environmental history and a wealth of architectural buildings both on the high street and around the town.

Central to the town are Grant Park and Cluny Hill, with lovely woodland, well maintained open spaces for informal activity, and high quality seasonal planting schemes providing wonderful colour throughout the year.

Led by the Forres in Bloom group, the whole population is fully committed to enhancing the quality of life for visitors and residents through environmental improvement schemes and keeping the town spotlessly clean at all times.

In recognition of its efforts, Forres has recently been awarded a gold medal by Entente Florale Europe.

Forres is 19 miles from the Steading holiday cottage:
http://www.forresinbloom.co.uk/

'Thank you for a lovely cottage'

Just one of many appreciative comments left in the Steading's visitor book - you can click on the image for a closer look:

http://www.ballieward-steading.co.uk/comments.htm

Hugh Miller Museum and Cottage

Miller House in Cromarty is the home of a superb new museum created by the National Trust for Scotland.

It presents Hugh Miller's many talents - including stonemason, geologist, writer, editor and church reformer - through a variety of exhibitions, with some of the artefacts reappearing after over 20 years in storage.

The fossil collection has been enhanced with several specimens on long-term loan from the national Miller collection.

You can also visit the 17th century thatched cottage where Hugh was born in 1802. An audio tour takes you round its cobbled yard and the Scottish wild garden, then inside the building for vivid descriptions, often in Hugh's own words, of its history and of generations of his family who lived there.

The Steading holiday cottage is 55 miles from Cromarty:

http://www.hughmiller.org/