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.