Burghead Self Catering Cottage, Moray

The Scottish Highlands were popularised as a tourist destination when Queen Victoria bought Balmoral Castle in 1848. It is easy to understand why, with the wide open spaces, the 'big' sky, rugged mountains and tranquil glens. Home to many of Scotland's most famous whiskies and the Cairngorms National Park, there are many opportunities for outdoor pursuits, including walking, fishing and mountain biking. There are also plenty of award winning golf courses to enjoy.

The Moray Firth coastline is stunning, with its mix of cliffs and coves, historic fishing villages and wide beaches with the whitest of sands. Whether you want to take advantage of the many activities on offer or relax and unwind, the Highlands will have something for you!

A selection of the attractions within easy reach of Burghead Cottage are listed below:

Ballindalloch Castle
Ballindalloch is one of the most beautiful and renowned castles in Scotland. Known as the Pearl of the North, it is located in the heart of Speyside, near to the famed whisky distilleries of Glenfiddich, Glenfarclas and Glenlivet. Surrounded by majestic hills, and with the tumbling waters of the Rivers Spey and Avon flowing through the grounds, the setting is truly magnificent.

Brodie Castle (National Trust of Scotland)
Brodie Castle is located 4.5 miles west of Forres and 24 miles east of Inverness on the east coast of Scotland.
Having been badly damaged by fire in 1645, the castle was later rebuilt. The lime-harled building is a typical Z plan tower house with ornate corbelled battlements and bartizans. If you know where to look, you can see cannon drain spouts and a sun dial built into the side of the keep.
There's also a picnic area, tea room and gift shop, adventure playground with timber fort for the kids, woodland walks, gardens and a lake. If you have chance to visit during the Spring, the famous collection of daffodils will be in full bloom.

Cawdor Castle
Cawdor. A magical name, romantically linked by Shakespeare with Macbeth. A superb fairy-tale Castle, and just what every visitor is looking for ... Scottish history that you can touch and see and sense for yourself. Cawdor Castle is not another cold monument, but a splendid house and the home of the Cawdor family to this day.
Cawdor Castle dates from the late 14th century and was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. The ancient medieval tower was built around the legendary holly-tree.
Along with the three gardens, the Cawdor Big Wood, and our own 9-hole golf course, we believe Cawdor Castle to be a truly extraordinary place.

Elgin Cathedral (Historic Scotland)
Effectively redundant from the time of the Reformation in 1560, this magnificent sandstone monument was little used during the next 100 years and was virtually abandoned thereafter.
Gradually parts of the structure collapsed as a result of unchecked decay, and it was not until the early 19th century that Elgin Cathedral received the respect it deserved as a fine piece of medieval architecture.

Fort George (Historic Scotland)
Fort George sits behind its massive grass-topped artillery defences on an isolated spit of land jutting west into the Moray Firth at Ardersier, about 25 miles west of Elgin. Conceived after the 1745 uprising and the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie at nearby Culloden that concluded it, Fort George was intended to be a once and for all solution to the threat posed by the Highlands, and the Jacobites in particular.

Highland Games
Scottish Highland Games are a series of events where people gather to watch athletes from throughout Scotland and further afield toss the caber, throw the hammer, and take part in many other traditional games. From the skill and agility of the heavies, the colourful and proud massed pipebands, and the traditional flair of the highland dancers, this is a spectacle not to be missed.

Huntly Castle (Historic Scotland)
The castle, as it stands now, took several hundred years to build. The first structures were built around 1240 by Earl Duncan. It's name was The Peel of Strathbogie due to its location along major routes. In 1314, King Robert granted title to the lands to Sir Adam Gordon of Huntly, causing the name change. The castle then became the seat of the Gordon clan.

Moray Firth Bottlenose Dolphins
The Moray Firth contains a resident population of Bottlenose dolphins in excess of 140 animals, making it the largest such population in the North Sea. These animals are much larger than individuals of the same species in warmer waters elsewhere in the world. There are also large populations of both Common and Grey seals, harbour porpoises and some fabulous marine bird watching opportunities. The Friends of the Moray Firth Dolphins have an online guide to watching them:

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 28th April - 2nd May 2011
The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is an established event on the whisky lover's calendar! It features around two hundred events over the four and a half days, ranging from a formal Opening Gala, exclusive whisky dinners, to in depth tours of distilleries not normally open to the public, to more family orientated events such as cruises in search of ‘Whisky’ the dolphin and scenic train trips through the whisky heartland with the Keith & Dufftown Railway. All along with festival transport so no one has to miss out on the fun!

Spynie Palace (Historic Scotland)
For five centuries, Spynie Palace was the residence of the Bishops of Moray, standing on the edge of Spynie Loch, a sea loch providing direct access and a safe anchorage.

The Malt Whisky Trail
Speyside is home to more than half of Scotland's working distilleries and boasts the world's only malt whisky trail. Start off at Elgin's own Glen Moray distillery, then wind your way through some of the Highlands' most spectacular scenery and attractive villages and towns as you visit any or all of the distilleries along the way.

Try one of Moray's many golf clubs
This is the Region where green fees are among the most affordable in the land and where there is not only world class golf by the seaside but splendid inland and parkland challenges to perfectly complement them. Elgin and the Moray Golf club in Lossiemouth spring easily to mind.