Moray · Town
Elgin
A historic market town centred on impressive cathedral ruins and a useful base for coast and Speyside.
Explore Elgin →Coastal villages, historic towns and whisky country beside the Spey
Explore Elgin and Forres, follow the Moray coast through Findhorn, Lossiemouth and Cullen, then turn inland towards the River Spey, forest villages and Scotland's best-known whisky country.
Coast to whisky country
A region where beaches, old towns and river valleys sit surprisingly close together
Base yourself near the coast or the Spey, then explore one side of the region at a time.
Explore Moray & Speyside
Choose somewhere to begin
Use the map to explore historic towns, fishing villages, beaches, river country and the inland communities of Speyside.
Featured places
Where to go in Moray & Speyside
The region works especially well when you combine one coast day with one inland day along the Spey.
Moray Coast · Coast
Lossiemouth
A harbour town with long beaches, dunes and wide views across the Moray Firth.
Explore Lossiemouth →
Moray Coast · Village
Findhorn
A small coastal village beside a broad bay, sand dunes and nature-rich shoreline.
Explore Findhorn →
Moray · Town
Forres
A handsome historic town with gardens, nearby castles and easy access to Findhorn Bay.
Explore Forres →
Moray Firth · Coast
Cullen
A striking coastal town with a sandy bay, dramatic railway viaducts and cliffs nearby.
Explore Cullen →
Speyside · Town
Grantown-on-Spey
A planned Highland town surrounded by forest and river country on the edge of the Cairngorms.
Explore Grantown-on-Spey →
Speyside · Landscape
River Spey
A broad river valley of woodland, villages and whisky country running north towards the Moray Firth.
Explore the River Spey →
Speyside · Heritage
Dufftown & Whisky Country
A compact Speyside town surrounded by distilleries, hills and routes through the heart of whisky country.
Explore Dufftown →
Moray Coast · Village
Burghead & Hopeman
Small coastal communities linked by beaches, cliffs and an excellent stretch of Moray shoreline.
Explore Burghead & Hopeman →
Choose your kind of day
What is Moray & Speyside best for?
Beaches, fishing villages & cliffs
Moray Coast
Distilleries, old towns & Spey Valley
Whisky Country
Forest roads, river walks & hills
Countryside
Cathedrals, castles & market towns
History & Heritage
Easy combinations
Places that work well together
Moray is compact enough to combine several places, but the coast and Speyside are best treated as two distinct kinds of day.
Elgin, Lossiemouth & the coast
An easy town-and-seaside combination.
- Elgin for cathedral ruins and town centre
- Lossiemouth for harbour and beach
- Add Hopeman or Burghead for a quieter coastal stop
Forres, Findhorn & Brodie
A relaxed western Moray route of coast, gardens and heritage.
- Forres for the town
- Findhorn for bay and dunes
- Brodie for castle and estate country
Dufftown, Aberlour & the River Spey
A classic Speyside day through whisky and river country.
- Dufftown for the heart of whisky country
- Aberlour for riverside atmosphere
- Follow the Spey between villages and wooded hills
Choose coast or Speyside first
Moray is easier to explore than much of the Highlands, but the best days still have a clear focus. Pick the coast, the Spey Valley or one historic-town route and leave space for unplanned stops.
For a day
Choose one coastal stretch or one Speyside route.
For a weekend
Combine one coast day with one inland day.
By rail
Elgin and Forres are useful rail bases for the wider region.
By car
Best for smaller coastal villages and the Speyside countryside.
When you know where you are going
Stay · Do · Explore
Once you have chosen coast or Speyside, use the local guide to turn the area into a complete trip.
Keep exploring
Continue towards Aberdeenshire or the Cairngorms
Aberdeenshire, the Cairngorms and the Scottish Highlands are natural next steps from Moray & Speyside.