Burghead to Lossiemouth

This grand coastal walk includes a fine cliff-top section with coves and sea-stacks, and finishes with a long walk across a huge sandy beach.

Terrain

Coastal footpath, undulating and slightly rough or muddy in places.

Public Transport

Both Burghead and Lossiemouth are served by buses from Elgin (no direct link between the two).

Start

Burghead. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

Users' reports

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Walk Description

Stage 1

There is parking in Burghead on the lane to the caravan park at the southwestern edge of town. This stage of the Moray Coast Trail begins from turns off to the main road (Grant Street) to the right, heading along Park Street and past the huge maltings plant owned by drinks giant Diageo. This, together with a similar plant nearby, provides much of the raw ingredient for spirits including whisky distilled nearby. Turn right to join a path on the seaward side of the factory, and immediately after the maltings keep left to join the old railway which follows the coast to Cummingston. Go through a gate and then the path passes through low cuttings and at other times the coast is visible. Ignore a path off to the left signed for the Clarkly Hill circular and continue along the line.

Stage 2

Continue along the old railway line until the outskirts of Hopeman where it meets a caravan park. Here the park forks - the official route goes right, soon joining Drummuir Street. Continue along this to the left to its far end, and then turn left down Harbour Street. Continue towards the harbour - the alternative route from the fork mentioned earlier passes round the north edge of the caravan park before rejoining here. Now turn right at the Moray Firth Trail signpost to soon reach a car park on the east beach. From here head past a picnic table and up to the bandstand-like pavillion.

Stage 3

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.

Stage 4

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 Clashach 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. The route runs through high gorse above the south edge of the quarry and then beyond with the gorse obscuring views even once the quarry is left behind. Keep straight ahead at any junctions.

Stage 5

Suddenly there is a gap in the gorse and a wooden fulmar sculpture indicates a viewpoint above the disused Covesea Quarry, 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 and then following the path to the right. 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.

Stage 6

The path climbs a little now to round the top of a higher section of the cliffs. It passes behind another almost 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.

Stage 7

Beyond this the path soon sweeps down onto the western end of a vast sandy beach, reaching the sand between two massive rock outcrops. There is the opportunity to detour through a gate leading across a nine hole golf course to visit the Tee Shack cafe here if refreshments are needed. Otherwise, if the tide is high there is a path running along the top of the dunes; at other times you can continue across the sands towards the elegant Covesea Lighthouse.

Stage 8

At Covesea Lighthouse the high tide route above the dunes heads round the inland side of the lighthouse complex; at low tide, it is easier to simply continue across the sands, passing a group of caves and old coastal defences from the second world war. The beach runs uninterrupted for another two kilometres to reach Lossiemouth. Here walk up the slipway to the West Beach car park. You can keep left of the sailing club building and along the seawall onto a path. This path continues round the coast - passing left of a beach bar to eventually join a road. This continues to the harbour, eventually curving right past a cafe along the waterfront.

Next stage: Lossiemouth to Buckie

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