1. This walk could be made longer by starting in Burghead and continuing on the coast trail when that walk turns inland. If arriving by car, drive down towards the harbour in Hopeman before turning right at the Moray Firth Trail signpost; there is then a car park on the east beach. Begin the walk here, heading past a picnic table and up to the bandstand-like pavillion.

2. The walk passes behind a very colourful array of traditional beach-huts before a signpost ('Coastal path') indicates the onward route. Ignore a turning on the right for the Braemou Well and pass a couple of seats with a fine view back to Hopeman. The path continues across the low, grassy coast, passing just left of one of the greens of the golf course (watch out for fast-flying, hard white balls!) Beyond this the coastline begins to rise and the path climbs up steps.

3. When the path forks keep right to stay on the cliff-top; the path ahead descends into Clashach Cove with its secluded beach. At the back of the cove it meets a track; turn left along this. At a metal barrier, the entrance to Covesea quarry, the path leaves the track and passes to the right of the quarry. The coastal cliffs here are actually an ancient, fossilised dune system. Be sure to examine the rock-slabs which have been made into a display on the right; they contain the fossilised footprints of very early reptiles, ancestors of the dinosaurs. The route then runs through high gorse for some distance, which obscures views, even once the quarry is left behind.

4. Suddenly there is a gap in the gorse and a wooden fulmar sculpture indicates a fine viewpoint with a beach far below; further on there is a good spot for watching the nesting fulmars on the sandstone cliffs. Continue until almost past the coastguard lookout, and then turn-left at a T-junction. The path then rejoins the cliff edge, swinging to the right from the lookout. Unseen from here is the Sculptor's Cave in the base of the cliffs - an ancient refuge that contains some pictish carvings, but it is not easily accessible. Further on there is a first glimpse of Covesea Lighthouse, and then a sea-stack directly below the path.

5. The path climbs a little now to round the top of a higher section of the cliffs. It passes behind another inaccessible sandy bay with a second, more impressive sea-stack; this one appears tapered at the base and, once level with it, you can see an arch right through the bottom that means it is supported on two separate legs.

6. At high tide it may be necessary to follow the dune-top path, but at any other time it is preferable to walk on the huge sandy beach. After a little over a kilometre the beach passes tall and slender Covesea Lighthouse and the old coastal defences. The beach rounds a corner here and then runs uninterrupted for more than another two kilometres to reach Lossiemouth. Here walk up the slipway to the West Beach car park, from where a road leads up into the town.

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