Discover Tain: Churches, Trails and Golf

Tain combines medieval history, routes through the town and countryside, golf and the whisky tradition of the Glenmorangie Distillery. This allows you to shape your trip in many different ways: with cultural discoveries, an active day outdoors, a round of golf or a visit to the Tasting Bar. Anyone looking for accommodation in Tain will find a place where different interests can be incorporated into their own travel plans.

Medieval Traces and Remarkable Buildings

One focus is Tain's medieval church and cemetery complex. Its history is connected with the town's development as a sanctuary and later pilgrimage centre. St Duthus's Collegiate Church was built in the 14th century. The Category A listed building is now preserved as a roofed structure in the cemetery and is no longer in use.

St Duthus's Chapel also leads back into medieval history. The protected monument probably dates from the 13th century. It stands on a small rise in St Duthus's Cemetery east of Tain, close to where the River Tain flows into the Dornoch Firth. Anyone interested in ecclesiastical art, historic buildings and the development of pilgrimage sites can explore this part of Tain particularly attentively.

Trails, Beach Access and Time Outdoors

For a varied stay, The Links recreation area offers several specific facilities: a bowling green, a children's playground, a skate park, a wildlife pond and a football pitch. It also provides access to Tain beach. This makes it possible to combine a day outdoors with different interests without every activity requiring a longer walk.

The signposted Pictish Trail runs through Tain and complements the historical impressions with an experience on foot. Anyone who prefers a longer route can plan the Moss Road Circular. The moderate route is 5 km long, takes around 1 hour 40 minutes and connects town and countryside. As the ground can be muddy, the condition of the trail is part of the day's planning.

There are also two shorter easy walks near Tain: one route is 1.6 km long and takes 30 to 45 minutes, while another is 2 km long and takes around an hour. These different distances and walking times make it easier to choose between a short stroll and a longer circuit.

Golf and Whisky as Distinctive Travel Highlights

Tain Golf Club has a 6,404-yard 18-hole course that combines links and heathland characteristics. Its history dates back to 1889, when local residents invited Tom Morris to design a golf course in the area. The journey is also of interest to golfers: the club can be reached by train from Inverness; the journey takes around 1 hour 15 minutes. From Tain station, it is about a five-minute walk to the first tee.

The Glenmorangie Distillery adds a culinary and regional highlight. One tour follows the journey of Glenmorangie 12yo The Original through the distillery and ends with a tasting of two drams from the core range. At the Tasting Bar, Glenmorangie bottlings are available by the glass, as are various tasting flights without advance booking.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Plans?

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house in Tain, it is worth deciding on your preferred travel rhythm. Those interested in culture can make the church and cemetery complex, as well as the chapel, the focus of their stay. For active days, there is a choice of the Pictish Trail, the Moss Road Circular and the shorter walks. Golf and the distillery, in turn, create a travel plan with clear highlights and different types of day.

For your further travel planning, you can also find John o' Groats, Dunvegan, Inverkirkaig, Mybster, Fassfern, Aird Of Sleat, Bunchrew and Acharacle.

For the higher-level travel overview: Highland.