Moray

Moray stretches from the Cairngorm fringes down to a sweep of Moray Firth coastline, giving visitors a genuine choice between whisky country and seaside air. Elgin, the county town, offers the best base for shopping and its ruined cathedral, while Speyside proper, along with Craigellachie, Dufftown and Archiestown, forms the beating heart of malt whisky distilling, with Keith and Fochabers close by for market-town life and riverside walks.

On the coast, Lossiemouth, Findhorn and Hopeman draw those after beaches, sailing and dune paths, with Buckie adding a working fishing-harbour character. Forres, inland and quieter, suits travellers wanting gardens and gentle touring between the two landscapes. Together these towns and villages let a visit run from distillery tours to clifftop strolls without much distance covered.

Moray's hotels and B&Bs are heavily weighted towards whisky country, with Dufftown and Aberlour offering the widest choice for anyone touring the Speyside distilleries. Minmore House, close to Glenlivet, and Cardhu Country House both suit visitors who want a comfortable base within easy reach of the malt trail, while smaller places like Bankhouse B&B and Alderwood B&B are better for those after a simpler, more affordable stay.

Elgin has the largest concentration of town-centre options, useful if you want shops, restaurants and the cathedral ruins on your doorstep rather than a rural setting. The Mansion House Hotel is a good example of the grander end of what Elgin offers, while Abbeyfield B&B and Ravenscraig Guest House cater to those wanting straightforward, well-placed lodging.

Further south towards the Cairngorms, properties such as Lettoch Farm and Darroch Learg suit walkers and drivers heading into the hills, giving a quieter alternative to the busier Speyside towns. Choosing between areas really depends on whether whisky, countryside or convenient town access matters most to your trip.

Moray's coastline shapes much of what there is to do here, from the surf breaks at Burghead and Lossiemouth to the wide sands at Findhorn Beach. Operators such as New Wave Surf School, Blue Coast Surf & Paddle and North 58 Sea Adventures run lessons and trips out of these bases, making the stretch from Buckie round to Findhorn the natural choice for anyone after a day on or in the water.

Inland, the county's whisky and farming heritage comes through at places like the Speyside Cooperage Visitor Centre near Craigellachie and the Logie Estate, while Elgin and Fochabers hold on to smaller, older attractions such as Fochabers Folk Museum and the Moray Motor Museum. Outfit Moray adds another angle for those keen on getting active across the wider area.

With the sea on one side and Speyside on the other, it's worth mixing a beach or water-based outing with at least one inland stop, since the two halves of the county offer quite different days out.

Moray's coast and glens give campers plenty of choice, from the sandy stretches near Buckie and Elgin to the whisky-trail villages of Dufftown and Keith. Sites such as Strathlene Caravan Park and North Alves Holiday Park suit those wanting a base close to beaches and the Speyside Way, while Keith Caravan Park offers an easy stop for touring inland.

Glamping has taken hold across the county too, with pods and lodges like Glampods, Hillhead Hideaways, Hillside Havens and Tullochwood Lodges tucked into rural settings away from the main roads. Up towards the Cairngorms and Tomintoul, places such as The Dell at Glenlivet trade beach views for hills and forest quiet, and Duffus Estate Camping and Macbeth's Hillock give a more traditional pitch-your-tent option near Elgin and Forres.

Moray's coast and glens suit self-catering well, and the choice runs from fishing cottages in old harbour towns to cabins tucked into farmland and forest. Along the coast, places like Portknockie Escape and Firth View put you close to cliff paths and beaches, while Fisherman's Rest and Gamrie keep that harbourside character that draws people to Moray's fishing villages in the first place.

Inland, the whisky country around Glenlivet and Dufftown has its own pull, with cottages such as Glenlivet View and Rinnes Cottage set up for walking, cycling and distillery visits away from the coast. Riverview Country Park's Falcon and the Straw Bale Cabins' Willow Bale Cabin show the range of building styles on offer, from timber lodges to eco-built cabins, and smaller spots like The Bothy and The Laurels work well for couples or small groups wanting somewhere quiet to base themselves.