Long distance
Moray Coast Trail
Follows the Moray Firth coast from Forres to Cullen past fishing villages, cliffs, coves and long sandy beaches, with a chance of bottlenose dolphins offshore. 72 km (45 mi) with 410 m of climbing over 3–5 days, best walked west to east with the prevailing wind behind you. Since late 2025 the route cannot be walked in full on foot as signed: the Spey Viaduct at Garmouth is closed and has partly collapsed — see the stage notes for the Fochabers detour.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 72 km/ 45 mi
- Typical days
- 4
- Total ascent
- 410 m
- Difficulty
- easy
- Start → Finish
- Forres → Cullen
- Best direction
- West to East
- Water sources
- Forres, Findhorn, Burghead, Hopeman, Lossiemouth, Buckie, Findochty, Portknockie and Cullen all have shops and cafes. The longest gap is the Lossiemouth to Buckie stage, longer still on the Fochabers detour — carry water.
- Mobile signal
- Signal along the populated coast; do not rely on it for the high-tide or firing-range decisions — check before you set out.
✔ Waymarked throughout
Approximate profile derived from per-stage ascent — accurate on total climb and pattern, not a pixel-precise GPX trace.
Our take
The Moray Coast Trail is gentle, well waymarked and suitable for beginners, and the villages (Findhorn, Burghead, Hopeman, Lossiemouth, Buckie, Findochty, Portknockie, Cullen) are genuinely charming. Two things to plan around: the beaches at Lossiemouth and Cullen need an alternative foreshore route at high tide, and the military firing range between Lossiemouth and Kingston closes when red flags fly. Cullen skink at the finish is mandatory.
Highlights
- Findhorn Bay and its community
- Burghead Pictish fort and the Tugnet Ice House at Spey Bay
- Bow Fiddle Rock at Portknockie
- Cullen viaduct and harbour
Day-by-day itinerary
A suggested 4-day schedule. Adjust to your fitness and conditions.
1Forres to Burghead20.5km
From Forres to Findhorn and its heritage centre, then along the coast to Burghead and its Pictish fort and visitor centre.
- Terrain
- Paths, tracks and some beach. Generally level.
- Overnight
- Findhorn and Burghead have accommodation and caravan sites.
- Stats
- Forres → Burghead · 20.5km
2Burghead to Lossiemouth14.5km
Cliff-top paths and coves by Hopeman to Lossiemouth. At high tide on Lossiemouth beach follow the unsigned foreshore alternative.
- Terrain
- Cliff paths, some rock and beach sections, a few short steep climbs.
- Overnight
- Hopeman and Lossiemouth have accommodation and caravan sites.
- Stats
- Burghead → Lossiemouth · 14.5km
3Lossiemouth to Buckie25.25km
Past the military firing range to Kingston and Garmouth, across the Spey to Spey Bay and the Tugnet Ice House, then on to Buckie. SPEY VIADUCT CLOSED: Moray Council advise that the viaduct between Garmouth and the Speyside Way is closed (it has partly collapsed, per Scotland's Finest, 14 December 2025). The nearest crossing is at Fochabers, about 3 miles upstream — on the west side there is no pedestrian path from Garmouth, only a quiet unclassified road with limited verge; cross by the old road bridge or the A96 bridge pavement, then follow the Speyside Way north on the east bank (morayways.org.uk, read 2026-10-27). Red flags on the firing range mean nobody can pass.
- Terrain
- Coastal paths and tracks, then road walking on the detour.
- Overnight
- Buckie has accommodation and a caravan site; Fochabers is on the detour.
- Stats
- Lossiemouth → Buckie · 25.25km
4Buckie to Cullen12km
By Findochty harbour and Portknockie's Bow Fiddle Rock to Cullen. At high tide on Cullen beach use the foreshore alternative.
- Terrain
- Cliff-top paths, harbour walks, some beach.
- Overnight
- Cullen has accommodation and a caravan site.
- Stats
- Buckie → Cullen · 12km
Transport
To start (Forres)
Train · ScotRail + Stagecoach North Scotland (32)
Aberdeen / Inverness to Forres (ScotRail), then Stagecoach 32 to Findhorn
Check the current Findhorn bus timetable before relying on it.
Check times & book →
From finish (Cullen)
Bus · Stagecoach North Scotland (35)
Cullen to Elgin or Aberdeen
Elgin and Aberdeen both have direct ScotRail services to Inverness / Edinburgh / Glasgow.
Check times & book →
Best months
Accommodation
The coastal communities have an extensive range of guest houses, B&Bs and hotels. Caravan sites at Findhorn, Hopeman, Burghead, Lossiemouth, Buckie, Findochty and Cullen.
Night-by-night guide: where to stay →Resupply
Shops and cafes in the coastal towns and villages along the route; you are never far from civilisation.
Connect with
Chain into a longer expedition by combining with adjacent long-distance routes.
Moray Coast Trail + Dava Way
Connects at Forres (south end of Moray Coast Trail)
Walk the coast from Cullen west into Forres, then south on the Dava Way to Grantown-on-Spey for a coast-and-moor traverse.
Moray Coast Trail + Speyside Way
Meets the Speyside Way at the Spey mouth (Spey Bay)
Continue south from Spey Bay on the Speyside Way for a Moray-Strathspey traverse. With the Spey Viaduct at Garmouth closed, the two trails now meet via the Fochabers crossing.
Current conditions
Weather at the start point (Forres)
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:17
- Sunset
- 16:39
- Civil dawn
- 06:36
- Civil dusk
- 17:20
NOAA Solar Calculator · 28 October 2026
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