Mains of Moy guidebook
Our favourite outings
Lovely steading development with cafe, small shops, a gallery and heritage centre and a children's playground.
Also beautiful signposted walks beside a dramatic part of the River Findhorn.
43 locals recommend
Logie Steading
Logie SteadingLovely steading development with cafe, small shops, a gallery and heritage centre and a children's playground.
Also beautiful signposted walks beside a dramatic part of the River Findhorn.
Founded to preserve the last remaining Nimrod plane at RAF Kinloss and showcase the aviation history of this area.
Children love this place - you can crawl all over the exhibits, mostly planes, helicopters etc - and there is a planetarium and lots to look at. Limited opening though, so check before you go.
Morayvia
North RoadFounded to preserve the last remaining Nimrod plane at RAF Kinloss and showcase the aviation history of this area.
Children love this place - you can crawl all over the exhibits, mostly planes, helicopters etc - and there is a planetarium and lots to look at. Limited opening though, so check before you go.
Great beach for picnics and walks. You park in the forestry at Roseisle (signposted off the Kinloss/Roseisle road) and walk through the trees (only about 50yds) to the beach. In the trees there is also a wooden adventure playground for kids, barbecue pits and public toilets. Please note you will have to pay for parking. Not much, but you need to have change on you.
9 locals recommend
Roseisle
Great beach for picnics and walks. You park in the forestry at Roseisle (signposted off the Kinloss/Roseisle road) and walk through the trees (only about 50yds) to the beach. In the trees there is also a wooden adventure playground for kids, barbecue pits and public toilets. Please note you will have to pay for parking. Not much, but you need to have change on you.
Our 'local'. You can walk, or take a short drive or bike if you prefer, from here.
Wonderful woodland walks - the forestry is huge so don't get lost! And if you find your way to the sea the beaches are gorgeous and you will find very few people there.
26 locals recommend
Culbin Forest
Our 'local'. You can walk, or take a short drive or bike if you prefer, from here.
Wonderful woodland walks - the forestry is huge so don't get lost! And if you find your way to the sea the beaches are gorgeous and you will find very few people there.
Sightseeing
Beautiful Grade A listed Castle and gardens. You can tour the house which still feels very homey, not museum like, and the grounds are lovely too.
59 locals recommend
Brodie Castle
Beautiful Grade A listed Castle and gardens. You can tour the house which still feels very homey, not museum like, and the grounds are lovely too.
Our local distillery. You are in Speyside so there are hundreds, large and small, to be discovered but this one is Forres' own and you can bike to it from here almost entirely off-road. It does tours and tastings.
33 locals recommend
Benromach Distillery
Invererne RoadOur local distillery. You are in Speyside so there are hundreds, large and small, to be discovered but this one is Forres' own and you can bike to it from here almost entirely off-road. It does tours and tastings.
Fort George
Great day out for all ages at this historic fort.
Just stunning!
Always stunning in all weathers and at all seasons! You can walk from here to enjoy the quieter west side of the bay, or drive round to Findhorn village with its pubs, cafes, delicious bakery, marina and beach.
13 locals recommend
Findhorn Bay
Always stunning in all weathers and at all seasons! You can walk from here to enjoy the quieter west side of the bay, or drive round to Findhorn village with its pubs, cafes, delicious bakery, marina and beach.
A fantastic castle in stunning gardens with tea room, play park and more. Open Easter to September except Fridays and Saturdays.
61 locals recommend
Ballindalloch Castle and Gardens
A fantastic castle in stunning gardens with tea room, play park and more. Open Easter to September except Fridays and Saturdays.
Shopping and eating
Great for browsing - homewares, clothes, kitchenalia, gifts and cards, food emporium and lots more. Also a good value cafe serving tasty local food (from a quick cup of coffee to a substantial lunch) in a large airy room. The cafe also has an outdoor toddler area (in summer) leading off the cafe, and (all year round) an area where toddlers can play. It's perfectly peaceful for adults too though - don't imagine being crammed in with screaming children!
83 locals recommend
Brodie Countryfare
Great for browsing - homewares, clothes, kitchenalia, gifts and cards, food emporium and lots more. Also a good value cafe serving tasty local food (from a quick cup of coffee to a substantial lunch) in a large airy room. The cafe also has an outdoor toddler area (in summer) leading off the cafe, and (all year round) an area where toddlers can play. It's perfectly peaceful for adults too though - don't imagine being crammed in with screaming children!
This is still a genuine woollen mill and locally owned and run. You can take a visitor's tour, or just enjoy their two shops - one for fine woollens and other clothing, one for gifts.
There is also a very good cafe.
52 locals recommend
Johnstons of Elgin
This is still a genuine woollen mill and locally owned and run. You can take a visitor's tour, or just enjoy their two shops - one for fine woollens and other clothing, one for gifts.
There is also a very good cafe.
Delicious home grown soft fruit, salads and vegetables. Scrummy ice creams made with their own fruit too.
Pick your own available in season, fresh produce all year.
10 locals recommend
Wester Hardmuir Fruit Farm
Delicious home grown soft fruit, salads and vegetables. Scrummy ice creams made with their own fruit too.
Pick your own available in season, fresh produce all year.
Food scene
Really delicious local food.
And if you're in Burghead do walk right up to the end - it's a promontory sticking right out into the Moray Firth and the views are fantastic.
14 locals recommend
The Bothy
16 Grant StReally delicious local food.
And if you're in Burghead do walk right up to the end - it's a promontory sticking right out into the Moray Firth and the views are fantastic.
Amazing and delicious range of cheeses. A mixture of those made on the premises from their own milk, lots of scottish ones and many from France. Cow, goat and sheeps milk cheeses, pasteurised and unpasteurised. Lovely knowledgable staff who will let you browse and taste before you buy.
Tiny cafe where you can sit in for cheese and oatcakes. Ice creams also available.
11 locals recommend
Connage Highland Dairy
Amazing and delicious range of cheeses. A mixture of those made on the premises from their own milk, lots of scottish ones and many from France. Cow, goat and sheeps milk cheeses, pasteurised and unpasteurised. Lovely knowledgable staff who will let you browse and taste before you buy.
Tiny cafe where you can sit in for cheese and oatcakes. Ice creams also available.
Don't fancy cooking or just want a break from the kitchen and to be pampered? Why not get top quality, home cooked food delivered to the door. Contact Rachel Philp of Philp's Fine Foods (www.philpsfinefoods.com or 07956 953 609).
IV36 2AB
Don't fancy cooking or just want a break from the kitchen and to be pampered? Why not get top quality, home cooked food delivered to the door. Contact Rachel Philp of Philp's Fine Foods (www.philpsfinefoods.com or 07956 953 609).
The Great Outdoors
The marina runs courses and lessons in sailing, powerboating and paddleboarding for children and adults. My children have all learned to sail there and we have found the staff to be friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
You can also book boat tours of the Moray Firth here - great for spotting seals and dolphins.
There is also a great cafe (fish and chips, local ices, etc) which you can enjoy at tables overlooking the bay.
9 locals recommend
Findhorn Marina
North ShoreThe marina runs courses and lessons in sailing, powerboating and paddleboarding for children and adults. My children have all learned to sail there and we have found the staff to be friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
You can also book boat tours of the Moray Firth here - great for spotting seals and dolphins.
There is also a great cafe (fish and chips, local ices, etc) which you can enjoy at tables overlooking the bay.
Enjoy the excitement the Findhorn has to offer! Did you know the Findhorn drops 500ft over 18 miles and has some of the best year round rafting in the UK? White water rafting, canyoning, cliff jumping, canoeing and kayaking and many more.
ACE Adventures & Hideaways - Activity Centre, Camping & Glamping
Enjoy the excitement the Findhorn has to offer! Did you know the Findhorn drops 500ft over 18 miles and has some of the best year round rafting in the UK? White water rafting, canyoning, cliff jumping, canoeing and kayaking and many more.
A huge area of stunning natural scenery. Visitors can walk or bike pretty much anywhere.
Aviemore is about a 40 minute drive from here, which is where a lot of the tours and activities are based. But you can just get a map out and pick where you want to go.
For winter visitors there is skiing whenever there is enough snow. For beginners and children I would recommend the Lecht, a small friendly centre with two magic carpets, lots of short runs and a cafe for those not skiing. For the more adventurous skiier head to Aviemore and ski at Cairngorm. Hire is available at both locations, although on peak weeks (Feb half term mostly) it is worth reserving in advance, especially for the smaller sizes.
123 locals recommend
Cairngorms National Park
A huge area of stunning natural scenery. Visitors can walk or bike pretty much anywhere.
Aviemore is about a 40 minute drive from here, which is where a lot of the tours and activities are based. But you can just get a map out and pick where you want to go.
For winter visitors there is skiing whenever there is enough snow. For beginners and children I would recommend the Lecht, a small friendly centre with two magic carpets, lots of short runs and a cafe for those not skiing. For the more adventurous skiier head to Aviemore and ski at Cairngorm. Hire is available at both locations, although on peak weeks (Feb half term mostly) it is worth reserving in advance, especially for the smaller sizes.