Guidebook to Moray

Hester
Guidebook to Moray

Food & Drink

A selection of independent 'boutique' destinations for your gastronomical and dining pleasure. Most feature home-grown or locally sourced produce be it from land sea or air and some are award-winning. Enjoy.
This is a fantastic family run business and much revered amongst the locals. Quite simply, the best fish and chips I've ever had. Their 'Pop Pop Chicken" is infamous and my personal favourite. You must go to them for late lunch or dinner AT LEAST once during your stay. Please note you cannot sit in: takeaway only and they do not deliver.
8 locals recommend
Portknockie Fish & Chip Shop
7 Union St
8 locals recommend
This is a fantastic family run business and much revered amongst the locals. Quite simply, the best fish and chips I've ever had. Their 'Pop Pop Chicken" is infamous and my personal favourite. You must go to them for late lunch or dinner AT LEAST once during your stay. Please note you cannot sit in: takeaway only and they do not deliver.
Gordon Castle is a classy affair. Their cafe, set beside their huge and beautifully planted walled garden is a lovely place to come for lunch. The menu is derived from the goods grown in the garden where possible. Beautiful surroundings with a children’s play area and gift shop too (see Gordon Castle natural play area link also in this guide).
34 locals recommend
Gordon Castle Walled Garden
A96
34 locals recommend
Gordon Castle is a classy affair. Their cafe, set beside their huge and beautifully planted walled garden is a lovely place to come for lunch. The menu is derived from the goods grown in the garden where possible. Beautiful surroundings with a children’s play area and gift shop too (see Gordon Castle natural play area link also in this guide).
The best place to go for great value fish, fresh from the very waters you can see from the moray coastline. Also do great, big eggs.
Eat Mair Fish
Marine Place
The best place to go for great value fish, fresh from the very waters you can see from the moray coastline. Also do great, big eggs.
A delightful family-run business in the picture-perfect village of Fordyce. A popular venue, predominantly available for lunch, it’s best to call ahead and book especially in high season. See their facebook page for details of their dinner nights, which are infrequent but in demand, for a candlelit experience in an atmospheric historic building. A lovely place that we go back to again and again.
6 locals recommend
The Old Kirk Cafe/Bistro
Church Street
6 locals recommend
A delightful family-run business in the picture-perfect village of Fordyce. A popular venue, predominantly available for lunch, it’s best to call ahead and book especially in high season. See their facebook page for details of their dinner nights, which are infrequent but in demand, for a candlelit experience in an atmospheric historic building. A lovely place that we go back to again and again.
Artisan coffee and refreshments served by a friendly local face from his beautiful refurbished and repurposed american airstream caravan. Find them at the east end of Cullen Beach.
6 locals recommend
Coffee At The Kings
6 locals recommend
Artisan coffee and refreshments served by a friendly local face from his beautiful refurbished and repurposed american airstream caravan. Find them at the east end of Cullen Beach.
Originally a Coach House, and then used as the Cullen Town Hall, this building has recently undergone extensive refurbishment. It is now a glamorous boutique hotel, with a choice of lunch/dinner venues and a bar. In better weather, food is served outside in the courtyard.
11 locals recommend
Seafield Arms Hotel
5 Chapel St
11 locals recommend
Originally a Coach House, and then used as the Cullen Town Hall, this building has recently undergone extensive refurbishment. It is now a glamorous boutique hotel, with a choice of lunch/dinner venues and a bar. In better weather, food is served outside in the courtyard.
The Copperdog at The Craigellachie is a stylish pub/restaurant in the hotel serving fabulous food and of course whisky. The atmosphere is relaxed and service aways friendly. Also hosts live music.
29 locals recommend
The Craigellachie Hotel
Speyside Way
29 locals recommend
The Copperdog at The Craigellachie is a stylish pub/restaurant in the hotel serving fabulous food and of course whisky. The atmosphere is relaxed and service aways friendly. Also hosts live music.
Artisan coffee roasters and cafe located at The old Garmouth Hotel, Garmouth. Yes, Speyside don’t just do whisky! Worth a trip to wander around adjoining picturesque Kingston village which has access to a fabulous stretch of beach.
8 locals recommend
Speyside Coffee Roasting Co.
South Road
8 locals recommend
Artisan coffee roasters and cafe located at The old Garmouth Hotel, Garmouth. Yes, Speyside don’t just do whisky! Worth a trip to wander around adjoining picturesque Kingston village which has access to a fabulous stretch of beach.

Shopping

Antiques, clothes and gift boutiques
Cullen Antiques Centre
Seafield Street

Family activities and entertainment

Set in Spey Bay, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the dolphin centre is a great place to see bottle nose dolphins as well as other wildlife such as ospreys, seals and otters. Guided and unguided walks are on offer, to take in the wildlife and join the path of the Speyside Way. There's also an interactive exhibition, gift shop and cafe and tour of the UK's largest surviving icehouse. Free entry!
37 locals recommend
Scottish Dolphin Centre
37 locals recommend
Set in Spey Bay, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the dolphin centre is a great place to see bottle nose dolphins as well as other wildlife such as ospreys, seals and otters. Guided and unguided walks are on offer, to take in the wildlife and join the path of the Speyside Way. There's also an interactive exhibition, gift shop and cafe and tour of the UK's largest surviving icehouse. Free entry!
Brodie Castle Playful Garden

Neighbourhoods

A picture perfect little village, this is a lovely place to drive to for a walk around. The cottages are old and unspoilt with the most wonderfully verdant and colourful gardens (particularly in the summer). There’s also a ruined church to walk around, and a lovely cafe and bistro bringing new life to the old Kirk.
Fordyce
A picture perfect little village, this is a lovely place to drive to for a walk around. The cottages are old and unspoilt with the most wonderfully verdant and colourful gardens (particularly in the summer). There’s also a ruined church to walk around, and a lovely cafe and bistro bringing new life to the old Kirk.
An attractive hilly coastal town with wonderful views out to sea and an historic ancient harbour. Make it a must visit in the summer months when it hosts the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival: a great day out featuring live music and the best of local food and craft stores alongside showcasing and racing the boats. The Portsoy Boatshed is worth a visit to see a beautifully restored old boatshed, now the home of traditional boat building craftsmen that offer you week-long 'build-your-own-boat' experiences. The Salmon Bothy is a good stop for a dose of local fishing history, again, in a lovely old building typical of the fishing villages up and down the coastline. For refreshments, there are cafes, an inn and the famous Portsoy ice-cream parlour.
28 locals recommend
Portsoy
28 locals recommend
An attractive hilly coastal town with wonderful views out to sea and an historic ancient harbour. Make it a must visit in the summer months when it hosts the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival: a great day out featuring live music and the best of local food and craft stores alongside showcasing and racing the boats. The Portsoy Boatshed is worth a visit to see a beautifully restored old boatshed, now the home of traditional boat building craftsmen that offer you week-long 'build-your-own-boat' experiences. The Salmon Bothy is a good stop for a dose of local fishing history, again, in a lovely old building typical of the fishing villages up and down the coastline. For refreshments, there are cafes, an inn and the famous Portsoy ice-cream parlour.
Elgin is an attractive historic market town where you can find a modest selection of high street shops, restaurants, a cinema and a nightclub. Buses run from Portknockie hourly. Favourites of ours include the following: The Drouthy Cobbler (pub/bar) Gordon & McPhail (deli and deluxe food & drinks goods) Moray Motor Museum (sightseeing) Ada Turkish Cafe & Restaurant Cafe Kombucha (vegan cafe) Sites and historic landmarks to consider include: Cathedral ruins Lady Hill Castle Pluscarden Abbey (7 miles south-west of Elgin)
24 locals recommend
Elgin
24 locals recommend
Elgin is an attractive historic market town where you can find a modest selection of high street shops, restaurants, a cinema and a nightclub. Buses run from Portknockie hourly. Favourites of ours include the following: The Drouthy Cobbler (pub/bar) Gordon & McPhail (deli and deluxe food & drinks goods) Moray Motor Museum (sightseeing) Ada Turkish Cafe & Restaurant Cafe Kombucha (vegan cafe) Sites and historic landmarks to consider include: Cathedral ruins Lady Hill Castle Pluscarden Abbey (7 miles south-west of Elgin)

Sightseeing

27 locals recommend
Findlater Castle
27 locals recommend
Ballindalloch Castle and Gardens
61 locals recommend
Ballindalloch Single Malt Distillery
10 locals recommend

A bit of everything!

Logie Farm Steading is a lovely collection of businesses operating from a picturesque steading location. There is a cafe serving good quality savoury and sweet foods, a garden shop, a whisky shop, bookshop, gift shops and an art gallery. There is also a natural play area for children. In the surrounding woodland and grounds you can choose from several country walks that will take you through the gorge of Randolph's Leap-a famous local landmark with an historic tale, and a SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest). www.logie.co.uk/whats-happening/ Instagram: @logiesteading
43 locals recommend
Logie Steading
Logie Steading
43 locals recommend
Logie Farm Steading is a lovely collection of businesses operating from a picturesque steading location. There is a cafe serving good quality savoury and sweet foods, a garden shop, a whisky shop, bookshop, gift shops and an art gallery. There is also a natural play area for children. In the surrounding woodland and grounds you can choose from several country walks that will take you through the gorge of Randolph's Leap-a famous local landmark with an historic tale, and a SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest). www.logie.co.uk/whats-happening/ Instagram: @logiesteading
A one-stop shop, the Baxters visitors centre is a hamlet style complex with restaurant (famous for their giant pancakes!), a gift shop and deli style food and cookware shop, as well as a shop dedicated to their own produce. There is also a small play park outside to let the children run off some steam. Very easy to get to immediately off the main road. Instagram: @baxters_uk
15 locals recommend
Baxters of Speyside
15 locals recommend
A one-stop shop, the Baxters visitors centre is a hamlet style complex with restaurant (famous for their giant pancakes!), a gift shop and deli style food and cookware shop, as well as a shop dedicated to their own produce. There is also a small play park outside to let the children run off some steam. Very easy to get to immediately off the main road. Instagram: @baxters_uk
83 locals recommend
Brodie Countryfare
83 locals recommend
52 locals recommend
Johnstons of Elgin
52 locals recommend
59 locals recommend
Brodie Castle
59 locals recommend