walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Moray Coastal Trail: Lossiemouth to Hopeman

Moray Coastal Trail: Lossiemouth to Hopeman


Postby foggieclimber » Tue Jun 17, 2014 3:58 pm

Date walked: 16/06/2014

Time taken: 2.6 hours

Distance: 10.4 km

Ascent: 180m

2 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

After a good day out on the hills yesterday traversing the Five Sisters of Kintail, I decided to swap hills for coast today to continue my exploration of the Aberdeenshire/Moray Coast. Having previously covered the stretch of coast from Pennan to Lossiemouth, my next section of unexplored coast would be from Lossiemouth to Hopeman.

I drove from home to Lossiemouth where I parked in a small car park opposite the Moray golf course.

Click here to see a map of the route undertaken

After passing through the golf course, we continued onto the beach. We then walked along the sand in the direction of Covesea (pronounced Cow-see). Cuillin really enjoyed the walk along the sands. I recalled walking this section of coast in the early 1980s with my grand-parents.

Beach alongside Moray golf course:
Image

Looking back towards Lossiemouth:
Image

Covesea Skerries Lighthouse apparently contains accommodation that can be rented on a weekly basis. It is managed by the Covesea Community Trust.

Covesea Skerries Lighthouse:
Image

Covesea Skerries Lighthouse:
Image

The beach beyond Covesea Skerries Lighthouse is nicer and cleaner than the beach before it. I stopped for around ten minutes on this stretch of coast to watch the Sand Martins nesting in the dunes. As well as Sand Martins there were also numerous Swallows.

Beach beyond Covesea Skerries Lighthouse:
Image

Looking back to Covesea Skerries Lighthouse:
Image

Looking towards Covesea:
Image

It was interesting to see the rocks at Covesea, as I have not previously visited this part of coast and this climbing crag.

Rocks at Covesea:
Image

At Covesea there is a nice sandstone pavement with many excellent rock pools. I will definitely be revisiting with Becky.

Sandstone pavement and rock pools at Covesea:
Image

I continued beyond the sandstone pavement for a short distance before clambering up some rocks to reach a grassy slope above. I managed to find a way up to the Moray Coastal Trail avoiding all the gorse bushes.

If following this route, it would be easier and safer to join the Moray Coastal Trail before the sandstone pavement, especially if the tide is coming in.

Covesea cliffs:
Image

The Moray Coastal Trail at Covesea is along a good quality path. Once onto this path, we made fast progress towards Hopeman.

On the Moray Coastal Trail:
Image

Covesea coast:
Image

I believe the building in the next photo may be a Coastguard Lookout Station.

Lookout station at Covesea:
Image

Following the Moray Coastal Trail:
Image

Beyond the grit track, the Moray Coastal Trail is along a grass track. There are lots of wild flowers and insects. It was lovely to watch all the bees and butterflies. I saw Red Admirals and Peacock butterflies today. Cuillin was also really interested in the noise being produced by a cricket/grasshopper.

Foxglove close-up:
Image

Clashach quarry is fenced-off with a number of Health & Safety signs warning of the danger.

Clashach Quarry:
Image

Clashach Cove:
Image

Looking back along coast:
Image

As we approached Hopeman, I could see numerous coloured beach huts above the East Beach.

Approaching Hopeman:
Image

Hopeman huts:
Image

Hopeman East Beach:
Image

Just beyond the beach huts, a jet from RAF Lossiemouth flew past. I think it was a Tornado.

Tornado (zoom):
Image

We stopped for a short break at the harbour before continuing up to the main road.

Hopeman Harbour:
Image

As it was now very hot, and our water supply was dwindling, I decided to use public transport to return to the car instead of walking back. We caught a bus from Hopeman to Elgin Bus Station then another bus from Elgin Bus Station to Lossiemouth.
foggieclimber
 
Posts: 1041
Joined: Aug 9, 2009

2 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).



Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 49 guests