Travel: 48 Hours in Findhorn

Friday, 8pm Check in at the Crown and Anchor Inn (www.crownandanchorinn.co.uk), a warm and friendly hotel in the heart of the village. Double rooms from £70.

Saturday, 9am Breakfast at the Findhorn Bakehouse (01309 691 600), which sells freshly baked croissants and pastries. You'll smell it before you see it.

10am Take a stroll round the village and check out the bay and the Moray Firth. Findhorn has more than seven miles of wide sand; you can hire a bike, book in for a taster sailing session or try sports including kayaking, rafting and windsurfing (www.findhornmarina.com).

1pm Have lunch at Piers Caf in the Findhorn yacht club (www.rfyc.net), where you can munch on Buckie harbour fish and chips.

2pm Walk or cycle to The Park, where you'll find the Findhorn Foundation (www.findhorn.org), the famous spiritual community with an eco-village and education centre.

4pm Have a herbal tea and a vegetarian snack at the Findhorn Foundation's Blue Angel Caf.

7pm Dinner at The Kimberley Inn, which has a selection of fresh seafood and real ale, and a beautiful view of Findhorn Bay (www.kimberleyinn.com).

Sunday, 11am Take a 25-minute drive to Johnston's Woollen Mill (www.johnstonscashmere.com) in Elgin. If you can't afford the cashmere, then enjoy the heritage centre, mill and cafe.

3pm Cross the road to Spynie Palace, the 13th-century bishop's residence or visit Gordon and McPhail's retail shop for a whisky-tasting session (www.gordonandmacphail.com).

7pm Put on your finery for dinner at the Michelin-starred Boath House, a beautiful Regency house outside Nairn (www.boath-house.com).

THE FACTS

Findhorn is five miles north of Forres, or 40 minutes from Inverness. Rail travel from Edinburgh to Forres starts from 52 return, see www.thetrainline.com

• This article first appeared in The Scotsman, Saturday September 11, 2010