Discover Beauly: Priory, Market Cross and Routes

If you’re looking for a hotel in Beauly, you can choose where to stay based on specific interests: medieval landmarks, Thomas Telford’s bridge construction, cycling and walking routes, and seasonal sights. The historic buildings, varied route options, and local businesses offer several tangible points of interest during your stay.

Historic buildings and local history

Beauly Priory was founded around 1230 by a member of the Bisset family. Its church houses several funerary monuments. The Priory’s founding story and these monuments offer two distinct historical connections.

The Beauly Market Cross incorporates a significant surviving part of an older market cross dating from the 14th century. It is one of Scotland’s oldest surviving upright market crosses.

Lovat Bridge is a later architectural landmark. The engineer Thomas Telford built it between 1811 and 1814. It is a four-span bridge made of ashlar stone, with segmental arches and triangular cutwaters. While the Priory and Market Cross have medieval associations, the bridge offers insight into a later period of construction and a clearly identifiable design. Four-span means that the bridge consists of four separate spans.

Cycling and walking routes

The Beauly Road active travel route officially opened on 29 July 2024. Its new path extends the existing route from Lovat Bridge and connects Dunballoch with the junction to the A833. It is intended for walking, wheeling, and cycling. If you’re planning to use the route, check current path conditions beforehand.

The Aird Cycle circuit crosses Lovat Bridge and follows Ferry Brae towards Beauly. Another option is the River Beauly and Lovat Bridge circuit: you can start the loop in Beauly, walk to Lovat Bridge, and begin the circuit there. In early summer, it passes wildflowers in bloom along the River Beauly. The details on direction, the loop, and possible starting points make the two routes easy to plan in different ways.

Seasonal sights and local offerings

In spring, Beauly’s cherry trees are a sight to see. The annual flower displays attract visitors from near and far. Both add seasonal interest alongside the historic buildings and routes.

Tailoring and baked goods are also distinctive aspects of local businesses. At Campbell’s of Beauly, all made-to-measure garments are made on site in the tailoring department. Harry Gow offers Dream Rings, cakes, morning rolls, and traditional Scottish baked goods. Alongside the history and routes, these examples provide a separate connection to Beauly’s present-day businesses and products.

Discover more destinations: Isleornsay, Carbost, Grantown On Spey, Farr, Glenmore, Portskerra, Fortrose, Ardvasar

For the main travel overview: Highland.