Lossiemouth East Beach: Things to Do

Summary

Lossiemouth East Beach is situated on the shores of the coastal village of Lossiemouth in the Morayshire region of northeast Scotland.

This wide, golden expanse of clean sand is a popular spot for summer tourists, but it’s also worth visiting at all times of year for anyone looking for an enjoyable walk by the sea.

Discover everything you need to know about Lossiemouth East Beach with this visitor guide.

The highlights

1: The beach is huge and it’s great for walks. A walk from the village can be extended by crossing the dunes into the woodland behind it.

2: East Beach is a top dolphin-spotting site. A pair of binoculars (recommended pairs from Amazon) is a necessity for wildlife watchers.

3: At 7 miles in length, East Beach is big enough that visitors are guaranteed to find a quiet spot somewhere on it.

Visiting tips

1: If you fancy a change of pace after your visit to the beach I recommend you check out Elgin Cathedral.

2: There isn’t much in Lossiemouth village but the cafés next to the beach are noteworthy for their delicious locally-made ice cream.

3: Find more things to do in the area with this handy Tourist Attractions Map, or take a look at the Grampian archive pages.

Overview

While the village of Lossiemouth is perhaps best known for the enormous air-force base which lies on its outskirts, those in the know flock there during the summer months to enjoy the gorgeous stretch of golden beach that runs along the village’s eastern side.

The east beach has become something of a mecca for both wildlife enthusiasts and surfers, with the former hoping to see pods of bottlenose dolphins and the latter enjoying the powerful waves brought in by strong northern winds.

But there’s more to this beach than nature and sports because the area also has some very good walking trails, with the circular route from Lossiemouth village to the end of the beach and back again via the surrounding woodland a particular favourite with locals and visitors alike.

It’s an easy walk that should only take around two hours to complete and I highly recommend you check out the Walk Highlands website for further details.

Lossiemouth East Beach is a great place to visit when the warmer months visit Scotland and because it’s so remote it rarely gets busy. The sand is soft and clean and the sea along this stretch of coastline is relatively clear, so it would be perfect for swimming if only it was a wee bit warmer.

But even so, I think this beach is a bit of a hidden gem in Scotland and it’s one that I thoroughly recommend you visit.

Tourist information

Lossiemouth village is a sleepy, quaint little hamlet not far from the busy Morayshire town of Elgin, and its close proximity to the glorious east beach and surrounding countryside has given it its nickname of ‘the jewel of the Moray Firth’.

While a visit here might be disturbed by the occasional military jet roaring overhead, if you want to get away from busy city life then a walk along the east beach, the nearby salt flats, and the gentle River Lossie are guaranteed to offer the relaxation you’re looking for.

The east beach can be easily accessed from Clifton Road in Lossiemouth which has several cafés and restaurants with pavement seating areas to sit back and relax on.

A short walk will then take you to the bridge that crosses the River Lossie before leading out onto the vast expanse of beach and dunes that run for a few miles east to the village of Kingston at the far end of the bay.

Running parallel to the beach is a wide stretch of sand dunes that are home to lots of wildlife, while an expanse of salt flats borders the River Lossie which also runs alongside the beach before veering off further inland.

If you want to take a break from the beach there’s also a sizeable woodland to explore to the south where several paths have been made so that you can explore the area without getting bogged down by thick undergrowth, and if you’ve got your dog with you I think you’ll both enjoy a stroll there.

Nearby attractions include Spynie Palace which is around 10 minutes away by car (you can find out more about it in my Complete Guide to Spynie Palace) and Elgin Cathedral which is only a 15-minute drive from the village.

Because you’re deep in the heart of Speyside whisky country you can also pop into the Glen Moray distillery (a 20-minute drive) if you fancy a dram of the good stuff. The distillery runs daily tours for a reasonable price that includes complimentary tastings of their fantastic single malts.

That has to be the perfect way to round off a day at Lossiemouth east beach.

Walking route

Click the map for details

---

Things to do nearby

Duffus Castle. Elgin IV30 5RH. 11-minute drive. Medieval ruins situated on raised earthworks dating from the 12th century. The castle was inhabited for nearly 500 years before falling into ruin. It is now managed by Historic Environment Scotland.

Spynie Palace. Elgin IV30 5QG. 8-minute drive. A partially-ruined 14th-century bishop’s palace that served Elgin Cathedral for hundreds of years. The 72-foot tower house is one of the tallest in Scotland.

Moray Motor Museum. Bridge St, Elgin IV30 4DE. 10-minute drive. This museum is housed in a converted grain mill in the centre of Elgin. There is a varied collection of vehicles inside including vintage cars, motorbikes and model cars.

Lossiemouth Fisheries and Communities Museum. Pitgaveny St, Lossiemouth IV31 6NT. 2-minute walk. A museum dedicated to the heritage of Lossiemouth.

The museum features recreations of life in Lossiemouth during the last century and there are display cases of model fishing boats and artefacts collected from the village.

Findhorn Beach. North Shore, Findhorn, Forres IV36 3YQ. 30-minute drive. A wide golden sand beach that sits alongside the River Findhorn and Kinloss Barracks.

The region that borders the river is home to a number of cafés and restaurants and the shallow water of Findhorn Bay is a haven for windsurfers.

---

Frequently asked questions