Places easily reachable by bicycle (less than one hour)

Findhorn Bay

Is just beyond Forres, 3 miles (5 Km) from the house.If you come here, this lovely bay will remain in you forever!

It is surrounded by trees and shrubs and the tide changes its aspect quite quickly during the day. It is the winter home for wild geese coming from Iceland. In spring all the surrounding gorse bushes are in bloom with intense yellow flowers, filling the air with their warm, sweet honey scent.

You can enjoy the bay from many places, including the pub in the Village, the top of Cluny Hill, the road to Findhorn, the border and the beaches of the Culbin Forest... the bay is always there as a reference point.

Findhorn Foundation Community: The Park

The Park is the spiritual and social heart of the Findhorn Foundation Community. It is the root of the Findhorn Community, where everything started in 1962. Located on Findhorn Bay it has a lot of places of interest which demonstrate more than 40 years of vitality and creativity of the Findhorn Community including a theatre in The Universal Hall.

Visiting "The Park" is a must for Newbold House visitors. It is also the main venue for the weekly programme of events published in the community magazine: "The Rainbow Bridge."

In The Park you can see the eco houses, the wind mill cluster, the Universal Hall, Cullerne Gardens and all the "historical " places of the community such as the Main Sanctuary, the original gardens and the 45 years old original caravan of the founders now used as an office. A guided tour from the Visitors Centre is available most days for £2.

Findhorn Village

"The Village", as people call it, is a cluster of traditional Scottish cottages and a harbour facing the bay. Here you can hire a canoe or have sailing lessons from local people. Located at the top of Findhorn Bay this historic fishing village has two pubs, a village shop, a sailing club and a panoramic view of the bay and Culbin forest on the opposite side. It is often the venue for local festivals and events.
The village is the real "Findhorn", even though its name has become  synonymous with the spiritual community by which it is surrounded.

Culbin Forest

On the western side of the bay this large forest is reached in 30 minute by bike from Newbold House.

Passing through the forest you come to the beach opposite Findhorn Village.

Culbin Forest is a nature reserve which gives a strong sensation of "full green immersion" and provides an optimal setting for a day long outing. Just 100 years ago this place was the "Culbin Desert", parts of which are still visible in the dunes.

Brodie Castle

In 40 minutes cycling you cross the Findhorn River and cruising in the beautiful countryside you can reach Brodie Castle.

Brodie's garden hosts huge trees and a large pond placed by wise gardeners with paths around it and inside the woods. There is also a walled garden with many varieties of thousands of daffodils in the spring.

If you like typical products of this area visit the Scottish Store in Brodie Village, 15 minutes walk from the castle. Its premises are a former farm which are now a large store and restaurant.

More info at http://www.high-lights.co.uk/castles/brodie/