The picturesque seaside town of Nairn, one of the venues for the Highland Golf Links Pro Am, has attracted visitors for centuries.
The silent movie actor and director Charlie Chaplin took his family on holidays to the town, staying in the Newton Hotel, and said he found peace from the pressures of work and fame there.
Nairn Golf Club sits beside a renowned and award-winning beach which is a favourite with local families and visitors. The beach has beautiful views across the Moray Firth to the Black Isle and its coastline is home to a resident school of bottlenose dolphins.
Around Nairn are some historic sites, including the village of Cawdor and its famous castle, as well as Brodie Castle, an imposing 16th century Z-plan tower house with 17th and 19th century additions, set in peaceful parkland. It contains fine French furniture, English, Continental and Chinese porcelain and a major collection of paintings.
Even more historic are the Clava Cairns, some 4,000 years old and one of Scotland’s most evocative prehistoric sites. Set on a terrace above the River Nairn, the stones are the remains of an ancient burial ground and provide clues to the beliefs of Bronze Age people.
The site has drawn a new generation of visitors following Diana Gabaldon’s popular Outlander novel which is said to have based its fictitious stone circle, Craigh na Dun, on the Clava remains.
Nairn is handily placed for the Moray and Speyside whisky trails, with a range of distilleries within easy reach, including famous names likes Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Macallan and Cardhu.
Outdoor enthusiasts will find a wealth of activities near Nairn, including archery, clay pigeon shooting, climbing/abseiling, gorge walking, high ropes, kayaking, mountain biking and canoeing.
For the less adventurous, the town offers a range of shops and eating places. Nearby Logie Steading is also home to a range of business enterprises and includes a cafe, arts & gifts, textile artists, a second-hand bookshop, specialist food & drink, whisky & wine, farm and garden shop and a heritage centre.
Brodie Countryfare is also a major stop-off point on the road to Inverness and includes a restaurant as well as shopping for fashion items, toys, gifts and food and drink.
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