Guidebook for Morayshire

Monaughty Woods – This is an extremely large wood where you rarely meet people. Right turn out of the croft, left turn at the T junction. At the top of the hill there is a turning on your right drive along here for a bit and take the first turning on the left just before the first house, park on the other side of the lane to the house. Monaughty woods Garrow Slack entrance – from the above directions carry on past the houses all the way until you hit a sharp right in the road, park on the corner by the gate and start your walk up the track. Torrieston Walks - Right turn out of the croft, left turn at the T junction all the way to the next T junction and take a right, past a few fields and you will see a car park on the right. You can access Monaughty from this car park or go over the road to Torrieston where lots of people walk their dogs, there is a burn and a wee bridge with a picnic area. If you continue along the main road there is a sharp left-hand bend with a track going off to the right you can drive down here, there is a parking space on the right in the woods well before the house. If you walk all the way along here to the end, turn left into the field you can access Pluscarden Abbey own and run by Catholic Benedictine Monks living in the only medieval monastery still being used for its original purpose. If you turn right you have a steep hike up into the woods but you can a fabulous view of the Abbey. Duffas Castle – 12th century ruin sitting on a hill. Right out of the croft, left at T junction right on to the main A96, first left. All the way to the cross roads and take a left look out for the signs to the castle on your right. If you come to a left turn you have gone too far. A gentle walk around the mote and climb the hill to take in the views and enjoy the history of the castle. If you continue along this road to the T junction there is a track opposite drive down here and park. At the end this walk will take you along the top of the cliffs and you can walk all the way to Covesea (prounounced Cowzee) lighthouse constructed in 1846. A fabulous walk to do on a bright day with little wind. Burghead beach etc - Right out of the croft, left at T junction right on to the main A96, left then first right all the way until you drive into the sea! There is a Pictish Fort where my partner saw a basking shark, and a well near the walk to Cummingston. Burghead has a stoney beach to the right and a sandy beach to the left. There is a disused railway track which I believe has now been tarmaced where you can walk to Cummingston (a small coastal village). The sandy beach goes all the way to Findhorn which has the Findhorn Foundation and a fabulous café, The Bakehouse. Lossiemouth beach – a long golden sandy beach with dunes. You may see seals on the beach. On all the beaches there is the potential to see dolphins.

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