Forres awarded 'most beautiful high street in Scotland' accolade

FORRES High Street has today been crowned the most beautiful high street in Scotland.

It took the top spot in the competition run by Scotland’s Towns Partnership, Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Sunday Herald, receiving 23 per cent of the total votes cast.

Meanwhile Elgin also featured in the top 10, coming in eighth place with six per cent of the votes.

Forres was declared the winner by Kevin Stewart MSP, at the Scotland’s Towns conference in Paisley earlier today.

The Forres entry boasted of the colourful floral displays, distinctive architecture and the people of the town as being great assets.

“We have it all – green spaces, infrastructure, heritage, architecture – all kept to a high standard of care and cleanliness, reflecting the pride of place cherished by our people. We love where we live.”

Leader of Moray Council, Cllr George Alexander, said the accolades were testament to the hard work put in by the respective communities, including community groups, volunteers, shopkeepers and Moray Council.

“I’m absolutely delighted to see that two Moray towns have featured in the top 10 most beautiful high streets in the country.

“As a Forres councillor I’m ecstatic that Forres won; it’s a tribute to the efforts of the volunteers involved and particularly those who are responsible for the fantastic floral displays on the high street.

“Thanks also to the shopkeepers on both high streets who create and maintain attractive window displays which we all enjoy.”

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live. Nestling between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands, Moray stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Brodie Castle in the west.