Hopeman to Lossiemouth

Summary

This excellent one-way coastal walk has a fine cliff-top section with coves and sea-stacks, and finishes with a long walk across a huge sandy beach. If starting from Elgin you can catch a bus out to Hopeman and another bus back from Lossiemouth. Alternatively, if you have the time and energy you can reverse your walk back to the start.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

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

Public Transport

Hopeman and Lossiemouth are both served by buses from Elgin; there is no direct public transport between the start and end.

Start

Hopeman beach car park. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 9km / 5.5 miles
Time: 2.5 - 3 hours
Ascent: 95m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NJ146698

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (7)

Stage 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.

Stage 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.

Stage 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 Clashach quarry, the path leaves the track and passes to the right of the quarry. The route then runs through high gorse for some distance, which obscures views, even once the quarry is left behind.

Stage 4

Suddenly there is a gap in the gorse and a wooden fulmar sculpture indicates a fine 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. From the lookout a newly built section of path continues above the clifftops. 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 5

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 6

Beyond this the path soon sweeps down onto the western end of a vast sandy beach, reaching the sand between two massive rock outcrops. You used to be able to detour through the golf course to visit the Tee Shack cafe but this unfortunately burnt down in 2014 and has not yet been replaced. 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 7

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, from where a road leads up into the town. You can then either catch a bus to Elgin - or walk back (doubling the distance and time needed).

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