17th century harbour is oldest on firth Portsoy is built around a picturesque harbour, notably the oldest along the Moray Firth coast. Portsoy became a ‘burgh of barony’ in 1550, under Sir Walter Ogilvie of Boyne Castle. Historically, it was situated in Banffshire, but now Aberdeenshire, and lies a few miles along the coast from Cullen, separated by … Read more
Sitting deep within the Glenmore Forest in the Cairngorms National Park is this little gem, The Green Loch – so-called due to its unusually deep and vivid turquoise colour. Most maps and information boards use the Gaelic name ‘An Lochan Uaine’ which translates literally as the Green Lochan, but more commonly referred to locally as … Read more
Despite its name, this nature reserve is in Aviemore. The Craigellachie village of whisky fame is nearly 40 miles away. When you visit Aviemore, you might think the A9 cuts off everything to the east of the dual carriageway, but this lovely quiet park is accessed UNDER the A9 and makes it an oasis of … Read more
Beautiful woodland walk with castle ruins Loch an Eilein is a natural body of water that offers a tranquil place to walk and picnic. It is part of the Rothiemurchus Estate, which offers a wide and varied selection of activities across the area. The name is Gaelic for Loch of the Island, and on the … Read more
Millbuies is a trout fishery and country estate easily accessible by road, and providing a pleasant place to walk and fish as well as a habitat for wildlife. Four miles south of Elgin and 16 miles from Forres (25 minutes) The park consists of a loch with a circular, or figure of eight, walk – … Read more
Although Cairngorm Mountain is principally a ski resort, it offers things to do all year round. The funicular railway that runs from the car park to the Ptarmigan station is currently closed for repairs. Skiing and snowboarding Thirty-two kilometres of slopes are available for skiers and snowboarders with 11 lifts. This winter playground sites between … Read more
Morayvia is an aviation museum, perfectly placed near to one of the country’s former RAF stations at Kinloss. As a result, there are lots of exhibits featuring Nimrods, which were based at the station here before it became an army base. However, there is much more to see than Nimrods. Since 2011, the museum has … Read more
Ben Rinnes is Moray’s highest peak, with a summit of 2733ft (841 metres). It offers outstanding views of the surrounding countryside. It is a popular spot for walking, mountain biking and running. Although visible for miles around, it has few remarkable features unless you actually climb it. The trail is a steady ascent of 541 … Read more
Grant Park was gifted to the town by one of its most famous sons, Sir Alexander Grant. It contains a large park area with a natural arena. Along its boundaries are the Cluny Hill woodlands, St Leonard’s Road, the high Street and a car park. Along the northern edge is a traditional floral gardens and … Read more
A large adventure park and two unusual events draw thousands of people every year to this tiny village at the gateway to the Cairngorms. Landmark Forest Adventure Park is a family favourite for miles around with acres of woodland walks, climbing wall, treetop trail, mazes and flumes. It is set in an ancient pine forest. … Read more