Portsoy And Cullen
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Portsoy & Cullen
West of Banff are two of the most attractive towns on the Moray coast, Portsoy and Cullen. Portsoy is particularly lovely, with its 17th-century harbour, restored merchants' houses and narrow streets. The famous Portsoy marble, used in the building of Versailles, was quarried nearby. The best time to visit is in late June, when you can enjoy the town's excellent Scottish Traditional Boat Festival which features local food, street theatre and music. Six miles west is the town of Cullen, dramatically sited beneath a series of striking 19th-century railway viaducts and fronting an impressive sweep of sand. Walk east from Cullen harbour along the coast for a few miles to the lovely, deserted beach at Sunnyside, overlooked by the lemming-like ruin of Findlater Castle. There's another great beach at Sandend, between Portsoy and Cullen.
Self catering Cottages in Portsoy
- Old Mill Sleeps 6
- Old Coastguard Cottage Sleeps 4
- PORTSOY - Banffshire Sleeps 4
- Daylesford Sleeps 5
Sleeping and eating in Cullen
The best places to stay in Cullen are The Seafield Arms Hotel, Tel. 840791, www.theseafieldarms.co.uk; and The Bayview Hotel, Tel. 841031, both on 57 Seafield St.
Also good is the Cullen Bay Hotel Late Rooms Availability for Cullen Bay Hotel in Cullen
There are also several B&Bs. Cullen Old Chemist Shop Modern self catering apartment in Cullen on North East Coast. Ideal for visitors wanting to stay in this historic town.
The local delicacy (and delicious it is, too) is Cullen Skink, a soup made with smoked haddock and cream. For food try the hotels listed above. Two good pubs for food are the Royal Oak and Cullen Bay, both on the A98 east towards Banff.
Fochabers & around
Orton Estate A fantastic variety of cottages to choose from to fit any size of family more details about Orton Estate
The A98 runs inland, bypassing the coastal town of Buckie, to reach the pleasant little town of Fochabers, 12 miles west of Cullen. The town is best known as the home of the famous Baxter family, whose name has become synonymous with food, especially soup. The Baxters factory now stands west of the bridge over the Spey by the A98, and the Baxter's visitor centre tells the story of the famous food-producing family from 1868, when George and Margaret Baxter opened their grocery shop in Spey Street. There are also factory tours on weekdays, and cooking demonstrations. The Baxter's Spey Restaurant serves good cheap meals and snacks. Factory tours Mon-Fri 1000-1130 and 1230-1600. Free. Tel. 820666, www.baxters.com
Five miles north of Fochabers, at the mouth of the River Spey, is Spey Bay, site of the Tugnet Ice House, which was built in 1830 to store ice for packing salmon, and now houses an exhibition on the salmon industry and the wildlife of the Spey Estuary. May-Sep daily 1100-1600. Free. T01309-673701. Next door is the Moray Firth Wildlife Centre, which has an exhibition on the Moray Firth dolphins, as well as other local wildlife, including grey and common seals, otters and ospreys. The centre also houses a research unit studying the resident bottlenose dolphins. Mar-Dec daily 1100-1630; Jul-Aug 1030-1900. Tel. 820339. Mfwc@dial.pipex.com
Sleeping
There's accommodation in town at the Gordon Arms Hotel, 80 High St, Tel. 820508. Also Mrs Shand, at Castlehill Cottage, Blackdam, Tel. 820761.
Transport
Fochabers is on the main A96 Aberdeen-Inverness route and there are regular buses to and from various towns en route, such as Elgin, Forres and Nairn. There are also Bluebird Buses, Tel. 01224-212266, to Banff, via Cullen and Portsoy.