Hearth at the Old Mill

The largely undiscovered Moray coast offers miles of red sandstone cliffs that spill down to fine sandy beaches split by dramatic rocky headlands, and a chain of small towns, sleepy villages and fishing ports. The gentle breezes and warm sunshine of lazy summer days give the place a restful, relaxing air, and the evenings are a magical time too, with this part of Scotland renowned for its superb sunsets.

Elgin, the commercial and administrative centre for Moray for over eight centuries, stands on a meandering loop of the River Lossie in a richly fertile agricultural district known as the Garden of Moray. Although the townscape has been reworked and rebuilt over the years, it retains a medieval street plan with narrow alleyways leading off the broad main street, a cobbled market place, and some fine old 18th and 19th century buildings. Elgin has long been a favoured tourist centre for exploring the north-west corner of Grampian and offers a host of attractions.