In May, we embarked on a two-week adventure through Great Britain, exploring the countries of England, Scotland, and Wales. One of the highlights of our trip was visiting Forres, Scotland (our sister city), a town that shares a special connection with Mount Dora, Florida, as their “twin city.”
Our journey began in Edinburgh, where we stayed for the first two days. This gave us time to recover from jetlag and enjoy the city’s iconic sights. We explored Edinburgh Castle, strolled along the Royal Mile, wandered through Victoria Street (famous for its Harry Potter connection), and discovered the picturesque Dean Village.
From Edinburgh, we set out for Forres, renting a car for the drive. We made sure to leave on Sunday, just in time to avoid the crowds from the Edinburgh Marathon. The drive itself was a treat, taking us through beautiful landscapes. We chose to go by Loch Ness in hopes of spotting Nessie, though another option is driving through Cairngorms National Park and Balmoral Castle, which we explored on our return trip.
Following Eve’s recommendations, we stayed at the Ramnee Hotel, located just outside Forres. Google Maps took us on a scenic route around the town, offering glimpses of church steeples and homes perched on the hills. Upon our arrival, we were warmly greeted by Andy Hall, the former President of the Forres Sister City Committee. Since it was a Sunday, many places were closed, but Andy kindly gave us a walking tour of the town. We passed through Grant Park, which led us into the town center with quaint shops and bakeries along the main street. Andy showed us key landmarks, including the city hall, the school, the site where a new school is being built and the closed Church of Scotland – anyone looking for a property in Forres? Forres, much like Mount Dora, has preserved much of its historic charm while embracing new growth on the outskirts.
As a special treat, we hopped into Andy’s car to explore more of the area. One standout site was the Suenos Stone, the largest surviving Pictish cross-slab stone in Scotland. Standing 21 feet tall, it dates to around 850-950 AD and is thought to commemorate the death of King Dubh mac Ailpin. These ancient stones are filled with carvings that tell stories of battles, with soldiers, crosses, and other symbols of the time. We also went to Mount Dora Drive, in a newer development just outside Forres as well as to the Califer Hill Viewpoint for a spectacular view of town and North Sea.
Being Sunday, the only restaurant open was the one at the hotel, where we had the chance to sample traditional Scottish food. The haggis, a dish made from sheep’s offal, oatmeal, and spices, cooked in a sheep’s stomach, giving it a unique flavor that was surprisingly tasty. The hotel’s restaurant also served a variety of local Scottish beers, which we enjoyed as we relaxed after a day of exploring.
