Logie Steading Art Gallery

Logie Steading sits in proper countryside just outside Forres, housed in a converted farm building that's got real character. It's an art gallery, but not the stuffy kind - the sort of place where local artists show work alongside craftspeople, and you'll find everything from paintings to pottery to jewellery in the converted steading itself.

The building is the draw as much as what's inside. Walking through a working farm courtyard to reach the gallery gives it an authentic feel, and the setting matters. On a clear day, the Aberdeenshire landscape around it is genuinely lovely. You're not fighting crowds here - it's low-key, which either appeals or doesn't depending on what you want.

Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're genuinely interested in the work on display. It's free to look around, though obviously they hope you'll buy something. Art types will appreciate the calibre of local talent, but it's not going to occupy a full day by itself. Families with younger kids might find it a bit quiet unless the little ones are genuinely interested in what's on the walls.

Combine it with a stay at ACE Adventures & Hideaways just down the road - that's only two miles away and gives you proper outdoor activities to balance out the gallery time. Forres itself has enough charm for a wander round, and you're well-positioned for exploring the wider Highlands from here. Worth the detour if you're in the area, but don't plan your whole trip around it.