Ballindalloch Castle & Gardens near Glenlivet
© North East 250 / Damian Shields
Explore historic castles
Take a tour of Ballindalloch Castle to discover its history since its construction around 1542, and find out more about its owners, the Macpherson-Grant family. If you have an interest in whisky, book a tour of Ballindalloch Distillery, constructed in 2014. The estate also offers walking paths, a tearoom and an outdoor children’s play area. Built in the 1200s, Balvenie Castle, near Dufftown, is one of the oldest stone castles in Scotland. Step inside to see the medieval curtain wall as well as the Renaissance features of Atholl Lodging. Duffus Castle is one of Scotland’s best examples of an ancient motte and bailey castle. Common in the 1100s and 1200s, mottes were early strongholds, consisting of a wooden keep on top of a man-made mound.
Explore Ballindalloch Castle and Estate
Step inside Balvenie Castle
Take a trip to Duffus Castle
Elgin Museum, Moray Speyside
Visit the main town
Elgin is a large town which sits on the road between Inverness and Aberdeen. Dating from the early medieval period, Elgin has been a bustling town for centuries. Visit the site of Elgin’s long-gone castle, which was destroyed in 1308 shortly after the death of William Wallace, and see majestic Elgin Cathedral which dates from 1224.
Johnstons of Elgin
Browse beautiful textiles
Open all year
Johnstons of Elgin is a family-owned Scottish brand with centuries of experience in textile manufacture. They have been producing beautiful woollen and cashmere products in Elgin since 1797. Book a free tour of the 220 year old mill to see them transform raw cashmere into gorgeous clothing. Shop for lovely, authentic souvenirs and enjoy a tasty lunch or decadent afternoon tea.
Nelson's Tower, Forres
© @duffus_estate
Soak up the views
Climb to the top of Cluny Hill and Nelson’s Tower in Forres to enjoy the views out across Moray Speyside. Built in 1806 as a memorial to Admiral Nelson, the top deck of Nelson’s Tower offers views to the north of the glittering Moray Firth and the distant hills of Caithness.
Sunset colours at Findhorn Beach
© @alittlebitofclaire & @unlimitedscotland
Hike a long-distance trail
Beginning in Findhorn and ending in Cullen, the Moray Coast Trail is one of Scotland’s beautiful long-distance walking routes. You’ll come across cliffs, caves and sandy beaches and stunning natural features, such as Bow Fiddle Rock, which is said to resemble the tip of a bow. You may even spot dolphins playing in the waters of the Moray Firth too.
The 50-mile (80 km) route takes around 3-5 days or can be split into sections.
Bottlenose dolphin in the Moray Firth
© Neil McIntyre
Look out for wildlife
Moray Speyside is home to a wide variety of habitats. As well as the pod of famous resident dolphins in the Moray Firth, look out for are elusive pine martens, mountain-dwelling ptarmigan, shy deer, and curious seals.
Ben Rinnes
© Moray Speyside Tourism
Have a mountain biking adventure
Feel the adrenaline rush as you zoom along an off-road mountain bike track and explore some of Moray Speyside’s most beautiful areas. With routes ranging from fun tracks for beginners to extreme tests for advanced mountain bikers, Moray Speyside’s mountain biking trials offer lots of unique features to test out.
Hopeman Golf Course, Moray Firth
Get out on the golf courses
Play high-quality links courses along the Moray Firth like the demanding Hopeman Golf Course, or beautiful parkland courses, such as Rothes Golf Course, further inland. For a slice of golfing history, look out for courses that were designed by the renowned Scottish golfer ‘Old’ Tom Morris, such as Old Course at Moray Golf Club and Cullen Links Golf Course.
