scenic viewpoint
Chanonry Point
One of the best places in Europe to spot bottlenose dolphins from the shore, a spit on the Black Isle near Inverness.
32 km · about 35 min drive
Scotland, United Kingdom · Europe
Kinloss sits on the route: 10 minutes from Forres, 54km from Loch Morlich.
Kinloss is a town located in Scotland, United Kingdom. With a population of 1,250, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Kinloss sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Kinloss to your route.
Kinloss Abbey is a Cistercian abbey at Kinloss in the county of Moray, Scotland.
The abbey was founded in 1150 by King David I "in order to extend the benefits of civilisation to the remoter regions under his sway." The legend of its founding is similar to that of the founding of Holyrood Abbey. According to theRead more
legend, while hunting, the king lost his way in the woods but was rescued by a deer, which guided him to a clearing. He was later persuaded by a vision, which he regarded to have been sent by the Virgin Mary, to build a church there in her honor. It was first colonised by monks from Melrose Abbey. It received its Papal Bull from Pope Alexander III in 1174, and later came under the protection of the Bishop of Moray in 1187. The abbey went on to become one of the largest and wealthiest religious houses in Scotland, receiving the valuable salmon fishing rights on the River Findhorn from Robert the Bruce in 1312, subsequently renewed by James I and James IV.
During its history the abbey has received many royal visitors, including Edward I in 1303, Edward III in 1336 and Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1562. The most renowned of the 24 abbots the monastery had was Robert Reid. Reid introduced organised education, erecting a new fireproof library enriched with volumes belonging to him personally and, in 1537, a new abbot's house. He became Bishop of Orkney in 1541. In his will of 1583, he bequeathed "8000 merks 'for to big [build] ane college' in the Burgh of Edinburgh."
While a student in Paris, Robert Reid formed a friendship with John Ferrerius, a native of the Piedmont region in Italy, and in 1528 invited him to Kinloss to serve as an educator. While there, Ferrerius wrote a long account of the various abbots of Kinloss and their works, the majority of which have not survived.
The abbey and its lands were part of the Barony of Muirton and the Lordship of Kinloss at various times.
In 1553, Bishop Reid was succeeded as abbot by his nephew, Walter Reid, whose abbacy coincided with the upheavals of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland. During that time, a great part of the lands of Kinloss were alienated to the Crown. Edward Bruce commendator after the Reformation, was granted some of the lands and fishing areas of Kinloss, raising him to the temporal lordship, Lord Bruce of Kinloss. In 1645 the remaining buildings of the abbey were conveyed to Alexander Brodie of Lethen, who sold the materials for the construction of Oliver Cromwell’s citadel at Inverness.
Few of the monastic buildings remain standing today. The remains of the abbey are now situated within a graveyard owned by the local authority, and are therefore accessible at all times. They are designated a scheduled monument.
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Kinloss.
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Kinloss.
Kinloss offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
Plan your road trip to Kinloss with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Kinloss as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Kinloss is located in Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 57.6349 latitude, -3.5701 longitude.
Kinloss has a population of approximately 1,250 people, making it a town in United Kingdom.
Add to your itinerary
Start planning your road trip with Kinloss as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Start Road TripDiscover destinations like Tinder
Swipe through stunning destinations near Kinloss. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United Kingdom8 notable places within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
One of the best places in Europe to spot bottlenose dolphins from the shore, a spit on the Black Isle near Inverness.
32 km · about 35 min drive
ancient ruins
A serene cluster of 4,000-year-old burial cairns and standing stones near Inverness, beloved by Outlander fans.
35 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
A famed Highland single malt distillery on the Dornoch Firth near Tain, offering tours and tastings on the NC500.
35 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
The moor where the 1746 Jacobite rising was crushed, now a moving memorial and visitor centre near Inverness.
36 km · about 40 min drive
photogenic
Sea arch shaped like the tip of a fiddle bow, a short walk from the village of Portknockie on the Moray coast. At dawn the quartzite arch glows pink and doubles in the still water; dolphins pass close inshore.
44 km · about 50 min drive
castle
A fairytale French-château-style castle with formal gardens and falconry displays on the NC500's east coast.
45 km · about 50 min drive
historic highway
Notorious high crossing of the eastern Cairngorms on the 18th-century military road between Cockbridge and Tomintoul, climbing to 637m with roller-coaster gradients: often the first UK road closed by snow.
53 km · about 60 min drive
natural wonder
Beautiful freshwater loch in the Cairngorms with a sandy beach backed by ancient pine forest and views to the Cairngorm mountains.
54 km · about 60 min drive
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
Other places to explore near Kinloss.
Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.
Start Planning