# Buckie Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Explore Buckie, a working Moray Firth fishing port in Scotland with a historic harbour, coastal walks and easy access to the Speyside whisky trail. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/buckie (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. A working harbour town on Scotland's wild Moray coast Photo © William Stuart, Google Maps [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/restaurants) Buckie sits on the Moray Firth coast of north-east Scotland, roughly midway between Inverness and Aberdeen, where the River Buckie meets the sea. It grew from the merging of several older fishing settlements, Buckpool, Easter Buckie and Ianstown among them, into one town whose fortunes have always been tied to the water. Cluny Harbour, built in 1877, once sheltered one of the largest steam drifter fleets in Scotland, and although the herring boom is long gone, Buckie Harbour remains the biggest in Moray and still earns its keep, now serving the Buckie Shipyard and acting as an operations base for the Moray West offshore windfarm. It is not a chocolate-box town, and it does not pretend to be. Buckie is proud, practical and unmistakably a working port, with a Victorian high street of independent shops, terraces of granite and pantiled cottages running down to the water, and a horizon that is as often filled with fishing boats and turbine-service vessels as with pleasure craft. That honesty is exactly what draws visitors who want a genuine slice of the Moray Firth rather than a manufactured one, and it makes an excellent, low-key base for exploring the wider coast and the whisky country just inland. ## Getting to Buckie Buckie sits on the A98, which runs along the Moray coast connecting it to Fochabers and the A96 to the west, and to Cullen, Banff and Fraserburgh to the east. The nearest railway station is Elgin, around 15 miles away on the Aberdeen to Inverness line, from where local buses complete the journey. Inverness Airport is roughly an hour's drive west and Aberdeen Airport around an hour and a half to the south-east, both offering the most practical air links for visitors coming from further afield. Regular Stagecoach bus services also link Buckie with Elgin, Cullen and other coastal towns. ## Best time to visit Buckie Late spring through early autumn, roughly May to September, brings the mildest weather and the longest daylight for coastal walking and exploring the harbour, though as with much of the Moray coast conditions can change quickly so it pays to pack for wind and rain whatever the season. July and August are busiest, while a visit in late spring or early autumn tends to bring quieter beaches and trails. Winter can be atmospheric, with dramatic seas rolling into the harbour, but many smaller attractions keep shorter hours out of season. ## Where to stay in Buckie(5) [All hotels in Buckie →](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/hotels) About staying in Buckie Buckie itself has a small but useful spread of guest houses, B&Bs and modest hotels, generally excellent value compared with Scotland's more heavily touristed towns, and well placed for exploring the harbour and Victorian high street on foot. Rooms overlooking the water or the fishing boats are especially sought after, and many local B&Bs are run by people happy to point visitors towards the best coastal walks and beaches. Self-catering cottages, often traditional granite or pantiled fisher's houses, are available both in Buckie and scattered along the coast towards Portknockie, Findochty and Cullen, giving families and groups more space and flexibility, often at a lower cost per head than a hotel room. Because Buckie is a working town rather than a resort, accommodation tends to be practical and unpretentious rather than boutique, which suits visitors who want an authentic base for exploring the Moray Firth coastline and the Speyside whisky trail inland. For a wider choice of larger hotels, chain options and more extensive facilities, Elgin is only about 15 miles away and makes a sensible fallback, while the nearby town of Cullen also has a handful of well-regarded small hotels with sea views. Booking ahead is wise in July and August, when the coast is at its busiest, but outside peak summer availability is generally good and prices drop noticeably. Whatever the choice, Buckie's compact size means nowhere in town is more than a short walk from the harbour, the high street or the start of the Moray Coast Trail. [Kintrae B&B Kintrae, Buckie](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/hotels/kintrae-b-b) [Struan House Cluny Square, Buckie](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/hotels/struan-house) [The Mill House Hotel Mill Of Tynet, Buckie](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/hotels/the-mill-house-hotel) [The Old Coach House 26 High Street, Buckie](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/hotels/the-old-coach-house) [🏨Hotel Marine Hotel 26-30 Marine Place, Buckie](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/hotels/marine-hotel) ## Things to Do in Buckie(1) [All attractions in Buckie →](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/attractions) Top things to do in Buckie Buckie rewards a slower pace, small museums, harbour walks and long coastal views rather than big-ticket attractions, but there is plenty to fill a few days. - **Buckie Harbour** — the largest harbour in Moray, and still a working one. Watch boats being repaired at the shipyard, buy the day's catch, or simply walk the quaysides and take in a working fishing port that has barely paused in over a century. - **Buckie and District Fishing Heritage Centre** — a volunteer-run museum on Cluny Place telling the story of the town's boat-building and fishing traditions, with an extensive boat database, oral histories and a 3D virtual tour. Entry is free. - **Moray Coast Trail** — the long-distance coastal path passes right through Buckie, linking it to neighbouring fishing villages like Portessie, Findochty and Portknockie with clifftop and shoreline walking in both directions. - **Strathlene Golf Club** — founded in 1877 and one of the oldest golf clubs in Scotland, its clifftop links course has sweeping views back along the Moray Firth. - **Buckie beaches** — sandy stretches either side of the harbour mouth, popular for a bracing walk, dog walking or a spot of beachcombing, with Cullen's famous golden sands only a short drive further east. - **The Victorian High Street** — a run of independent shops and cafes that still forms the heart of the town, worth a browse for local produce and a taste of everyday Buckie life. - **Speyside Whisky Trail** — Buckie makes a convenient, low-cost base for exploring some of the world's best-known distilleries inland around Speyside, many within an hour's drive. [Cullen Bay ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/attractions/cullen-bay) [Blue Coast Surf & Paddle ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/attractions/blue-coast-surf-paddle) [Fochabers Folk Museum ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/attractions/fochabers-folk-museum) [The Salmon Bothy ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/attractions/the-salmon-bothy) [Lossiemouth Fisheries and Community Museum ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/attractions/lossiemouth-fisheries-and-community-museum) [New Wave Surf School ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/attractions/new-wave-surf-school) [Pinz Bowling ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/attractions/pinz-bowling) [Outfit Moray ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/attractions/outfit-moray) ## Where to Eat in Buckie [All restaurants in Buckie →](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/restaurants) Food and drink in Buckie Given its fishing heritage, seafood is the obvious highlight, and Eat Mair Fish at the harbour is a well-regarded spot for fresh fish and simple, honest cooking straight off the boats. The high street has a scattering of traditional bakeries, cafes and chip shops serving the sort of unfussy, generous food that fishing towns do well, and pubs around the harbour are good for a pint with a view of the boats. For a wider choice of restaurants, Elgin and the whisky towns of Speyside are both within easy reach. [Subway ⭐ 4.1](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/restaurants/subway) [🍽️Restaurant Mearns Chinatown Ltd](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/restaurants/mearns-chinatown-ltd) [🍽️Restaurant Mill Brae Countryside Escape](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/restaurants/mill-brae-countryside-escape) [🍽️Restaurant AJ Catering](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/restaurants/aj-catering) [Garmouth & Kingston Community Hub ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/restaurants/garmouth-kingston-community-hub) [The Yellow Deli ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/restaurants/the-yellow-deli) [🍽️Restaurant Cullen Pensioners Club](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/restaurants/cullen-pensioners-club) [Beinn Books LTD ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/restaurants/beinn-books-ltd) ## Attractions Near Buckie [All attractions in Buckie →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Buckie. [5 mi Cullen Bay Banff · ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/banff/attractions/cullen-bay) [6 mi Fochabers Folk Museum Fochabers · ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/fochabers/attractions/fochabers-folk-museum) [10 mi The Salmon Bothy Portsoy · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/portsoy/attractions/the-salmon-bothy) [12 mi Lossiemouth Fisheries and Community Museum Lossiemouth · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/lossiemouth/attractions/lossiemouth-fisheries-and-community-museum) [12 mi New Wave Surf School Lossiemouth · ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/lossiemouth/attractions/new-wave-surf-school) [12 mi Pinz Bowling Elgin · ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/elgin/attractions/pinz-bowling) [12 mi Outfit Moray Lossiemouth · ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/lossiemouth/attractions/outfit-moray) [13 mi The Moray Leisure Centre Elgin · ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/elgin/attractions/the-moray-leisure-centre) ## Camping in Buckie(3) [All campsites in Buckie →](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/camping) About camping in Buckie Scotland's right to roam, formalised in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, means wild camping is generally permitted across most open land, including much of the coastline around Buckie, provided campers act responsibly: keep well away from houses, roads and enclosed farmland, leave no trace, and move on after a night or two. The stretch of coast either side of Buckie, taking in the cliffs and coves around Portknockie, Findochty and Cullen, offers some memorable pitches for those equipped for genuinely wild camping, with the Moray Coast Trail providing an obvious route to find them. That said, the code applies to backpack camping rather than parking up a motorhome or campervan overnight, which is subject to separate local rules. For a more straightforward stay, established caravan and camping parks are close at hand. Findochty Caravan Park, a small family-run site on the shores of the Moray Firth just a few miles from Buckie, has touring pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes alongside static caravans to rent, all with sea views from the base of the cliffs. Further along the coast, sites around Cullen, Portsoy and Lossiemouth extend the choice considerably, and glamping options, including wooden pods with sea views, have become increasingly popular in the area in recent years for visitors who want the outdoor feel without the full camping kit. Late spring to early autumn is the best window for camping here, May through September, when daylight runs long and the coastal weather, while never entirely predictable on this exposed stretch of the North Sea, is at its kindest. Whatever the season, the reward is a genuinely wild, uncrowded stretch of Scottish coastline, working harbours, seabirds, dolphins occasionally seen out in the Moray Firth, and some of the darkest skies in mainland Scotland for stargazing once the sun goes down. [Strathlene Caravan Park ⭐ 4.7 · from £20/night](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/camping/strathlene-caravan-park) [Greencraig Pods, Caravan and Camping ⭐ 4.6 · from £30/night](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/camping/greencraig-pods-caravan-and-camping) [Findochty Caravan Park ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/camping/findochty-caravan-park-buckie) [Sunnybrae Caravan Site Certificated Location ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/moray/camping/sunnybrae-caravan-site-certificated-location) [Spey Bay Golf Club ⭐ 4.4 · from £20/night](https://staycation.co.uk/fochabers/camping/spey-bay-golf-club) [Cullen Bay Holiday Park ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/cullen/camping/cullen-bay-holiday-park) [Burnside Caravan Park ⭐ 4.1 · from £18/night](https://staycation.co.uk/speyside/camping/burnside-caravan-park-fochabers) [Hillhead Hideaways ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/keith/camping/hillhead-hideaways) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Buckie [All cottages in Buckie →](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/cottages) [🏡Cottage Learig 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £536](https://staycation.co.uk/moray/cottages/learig-syk1112455) [🏡Cottage Sea Breeze Cottage 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £317](https://staycation.co.uk/moray/cottages/sea-breeze-cottage-uk11833) [🏡Cottage Sea Yonder 2 bed · sleeps 6 · from £691](https://staycation.co.uk/moray/cottages/sea-yonder-uk5402) [🏡Cottage Yardie View 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £463](https://staycation.co.uk/moray/cottages/yardie-view-uk44447) [🏡Cottage Seaspray Cottage 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £387](https://staycation.co.uk/moray/cottages/seaspray-cottage-syk1092357) [🏡Cottage Braehead Croft 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £495](https://staycation.co.uk/moray/cottages/braehead-croft-syk1543) [🏡Cottage Boatman’s Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £453](https://staycation.co.uk/moray/cottages/boatman-s-cottage-27787) [🏡Cottage Seaspray 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £677](https://staycation.co.uk/moray/cottages/seaspray-uk51308) ## Common questions about Buckie How many campsites are there in Buckie? We list 3 campsites in and around Buckie, of which 3 take tents and 1 offer glamping. Are there dog-friendly campsites in Buckie? Yes — 2 of the 3 campsites we list in Buckie accept dogs, including Findochty Caravan Park and Greencraig Pods, Caravan and Camping. Which campsites in Buckie have electric hook-up? 3 of the 3 campsites we list in Buckie offer an electric hook-up. Where can I stay in Buckie? We list 5 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in and around Buckie. What is there to do in Buckie? We list 1 attractions and things to do in and around Buckie. ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Buckie Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DBuckie%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Buckie - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/buckie/restaurants) - [🗺️ More in Moray](https://staycation.co.uk/moray) - [🧭 All of the Scotland](https://staycation.co.uk/regions/scotland) ## Staycation ideas for Buckie [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)