Lossiemouth: Top Tips & Things to Do
There’s more to Lossiemouth than meets the eye. I’m talking beaches, woodland, historic cottages, a lighthouse, a brewery, sunrise over the river, jets in the sky, and local eateries which stay open all-year round.
These are my top things to do in Lossiemouth, including where to eat, where to stay and why I have a soft spot for this town. Let’s go to Lossie!
This blog was written as part of a paid campaign with Visit Lossiemouth
Getting to know Lossiemouth
I first set my eyes upon East Beach, glowing under the midday sun, on a quick stop in the town during the summer months. I barely scratched the surface that day and it wasn’t until a longer stay in the depths of winter that I really got to know Lossiemouth – affectionately known to locals as ‘Lossie’.
Once an important fishing port for the nearby town of Elgin, Lossiemouth’s maritime heritage can still be seen and felt all around the town; the fishermen’s cottages in Seatown, Covesea Lighthouse along the coast, the impressive marina and the fishing boats which still land fresh seafood to this day.
Lossiemouth is a place to embrace the coast and face the elements; the sun, the wind, the rain, and the fresh sea air – or on my visit, a well-shaken cocktail of them all!
The town is perfect for solo travellers, and I quickly relaxed into my own rhythm of exploration and relaxation. From days spent outdoors, forever in awe of the sea, to cosy nights by the fire in my cottage, I was really was living my best life in Lossiemouth. Here’s how you can too.
Where is Lossiemouth
Lossiemouth is a coastal gem in Moray Speyside; one of my favourite regions in all of Scotland. On the south side of the Moray Firth, the coastline travels east, all the way from Inverness to Fraserburgh: Lossiemouth sits just about half way between them.
Directly across the Moray Firth, and visible on a clear day, is the east coast of Sutherland, part of the infamously popular NC500. I much prefer the peace and lack of crowds on this side of the water!
Travel distances to Lossiemouth:
- 43 miles from Inverness
- 70 miles from Aberdeen
- 178 miles from Edinburgh
Lossiemouth by Public Transport
Lossiemouth is a long way from my home in Edinburgh, but it is still possible to reach the town entirely on public transport. The journey takes, which takes around 5 hours, is a scenic adventure which follows the coast through Fife, Tayside and Aberdeenshire, then through the pretty countryside of Moray Speyside. Travelling from Aberdeen or Inverness is, of course, much quicker.
The fastest route from Edinburgh looks like this:
- Train from Edinburgh to Aberdeen
- Train from Aberdeen to Elgin (book as one return ticket from Edinburgh to Elgin)
- Stagecoach bus (33A) from Elgin Train Station to Lossiemouth
Lossiemouth is connected to many other towns and villages on the Moray Coast on the Stagecoach 35 bus service. Once you’re there, it is a small and easily walkable town and bike hire is available from Bike Revolution so that you can cover more ground in a short space of time.
Top Things to Do in Lossiemouth
1) Take a walk on the beach
Lossiemouth’s star attraction is the striking, inviting golden sands of East Beach. Flanked by sand dunes, the unique shape of the beach is defined by the River Lossie on one side, and the Moray Firth on the other. Sunrise over East Beach is a truly stunning sight to behold; turning the sky pink and the river orange.
The iconic wooden bridge across to East Beach has been closed since 2019 after falling into a dangerous state of disrepair. A new bridge is currently under construction and due to be completed in April 2022. Locals and visitors will be beyond delighted to access the beach again!
The town is blessed with two bonnie beaches and West Beach offers three dreamy miles of clean sand and rolling waves to soothe the soul. Close to the car park, there is a sheltered bay protected by natural reef; this is where local wild swimmers go for their cold water fix!
If you prefer to stay on-land, a distinctive line of World War II defence blocks sit between the sand dunes and the sea. Discover the sea caves beneath Covesea Lighthouse and a surprisingly picturesque Pillbox which watches over the coast from an outcrop above the beach.
2) Visit Covesea Lighthouse
Lossiemouth’s seafaring history is tinged with sad tales of lives lost at sea, including the 1806 Stotfield Disaster which devastatingly claimed the lives of every man and youth in the village on Christmas Day: there is a plaque to commemorate them at West Beach.
Tragedies like this prompted the construction of the lighthouse, which was completed in 1846. Like most of the lighthouses in Scotland, the commanding 40 metre structure was designed by one of the famous Stevenson family, Alan Stevenson.
The lighthouse was in operation until 2012; first manned and manually operated, then operated automatically, remotely, from 1984 onwards.
In 2013, with support from the government, the lighthouse was bought by the local community and is now managed as a visitor attraction with holiday cottages by a team of volunteers. Chris kindly gave up his time to give me a tour of the site – which obviously meant climbing 144 steps and 2 ladders to the top of the lighthouse!
The views of West Beach and the Moray Firth from the Lantern Room and outside balcony are nothing short of incredible. Wave watching is like a form of therapy and I could’ve happily spent the day up there with a flask of tea and some snacks.
- Visits to the lighthouse can be arranged by appointment only – please call 01343 810664 or email [email protected]
- There is also a Royal Navy & Royal Air Force Heritage Centre which is open to the public on weekends from April to October or by appointment outwith those times.
3) Go plane-spotting
Lossiemouth is home to the Royal Air Force base which protects the UK airspace in the north. The base has brought many new people to live in the area and it helps to support the local economy all year-round.
Located on the outskirts of the town, and home to four squadrons of Typhoon combat aircraft, it is a perfectly normal and regular occurrence to hear thunderous roars echo through the sky when these powerful jets are taking off and landing. The sound bounces in disorientating directions until you can successful pinpoint the aircraft in the sky: often flying right over the town and its beaches.
When I was cycling close to the base, on my way back into town, a jet was coming into land and flew over the road directly (and very closely) ahead of me. Not your everyday sighting on a leisurely cycle – unless you’re in Lossiemouth!
For a closer look, there is a location which overlooks the end of the runway at the base which is very popular with plane-spotters. I loved seeing the Typhoons prepare for take-off then blast away into the sky. I think RAF Lossiemouth and the frequent aircraft movement is one of the town’s most exciting and unusual quirks. Check out the RAF Lossiemouth Spotters Facebook Group for more information and images.
4) Book a tour at Windswept Brewing
Windswept Brewing was established in 2012 by two RAF Pilots, Al Read and Nigel Tiddy, who have since proven that when it comes to brewing beer, they don’t do things by halves. Crafted with quality ingredients, natural carbonation, and a whole load of passion, these multi-award winning beers are a credit to the small team, who manage the full end-to-end process on-site, including bottling the finished product.
Aptly named to reflect the local weather system, the Windswept products have always had a strong sense of place. Most of the beers are named after RAF aircraft, while the dark beers reflect dark periods in the region’s history – from witch trials and sea disasters to the notorious Wolf of Badenoch and his fondness for fire.
Windswept have transformed a corner of Coulardbank Industrial Estate into a brewery, shop, indoor Tap Room and outside Beer Garden with a fire pit, seats made from wooden pallets, and an endless supply of craft beverages and snacks. There’s an even a big-screen projector for sports nights!
I did a tour and tasting with Andrew, an energetic and engaging guide who could evidently write a whole book covering his knowledge of beer. We went behind the scenes to see where the liquid magic happens and concluded the tour with a very generous flight of beer: there were six samples in total and I was definitely feeling a wee bit wonky by the time I left!
- The shop is open 7 days a week
- The Tap Room and Beer Garden are open Friday – Monday
- The Introductory Tour runs on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from June (advanced booking is essential).
- For more information visit the website.
5) Explore by eBike
For a quick and fun way to get around Lossiemouth, hire a bike or eBike from Bike Revolution on Shore Street; this is part of Outfit Moray, a registered charity which aims to make outdoor learning and activities accessible to all, for the benefit of physical and mental health.
Bike Revolution focuses on promoting the benefits of cycling, reducing the environmental impact of travelling by car, and saving unwanted bikes from ending up in landfill: they are recycled, refurbished and given a new home.
Karen kindly provided me with a Volt eBike for a couple of days, which made exploring the town an energising and effortless experience. I cycled to Covesea Lighthouse and back, and up to Prospect Terrace for the best view of East Beach.
The eBikes are also ideal for cycling to Lossie woods, where you can find rare species of bird life, red squirrels and more World War II defences scattered through the forest.
Where to Eat in Lossiemouth
- Harbour Lights– unsurprisingly located right on the marina, this beautiful family-run eatery is a local favourite for breakfast, lunch and cocktails. Perfectly crafted Eggs Royale, strong coffee, and a warm welcome from Kirsty, Evelyn and the team was an ideal start to the day. The selection of cakes had me drooling!
- Twenty Nineteen– a colourful wee gem of a café, just a short walk from Covesea Lighthouse, which prides itself on its hearty, homemade food. The mushroom soup is one of the best I’ve tasted and haggis & cheese crepes should always be a thing. I’m glad I was tempted into taking a mint chocolate traybake for later – delicious.
- Stotfield Hotel – sea views, a relaxed atmosphere, and big portions of tasty pub classics in a hotel which dates back to 1895. I sat by the window on a wild, wet night watching the rain while I tucked into a mighty portion of scampi & chips. I still found room for toffee apple fudge cake, as tempted by the lovely Ada.
- The Salt Cellar– casual dining with an international twist, featuring fresh seafood, tapas and Italian inspired dishes. Curious but not willing to commit to a full main course of smoked haddock lasagne, I was offered a wee portion to try as a starter. Wow, I’ll be ordering it as a main next time! The sea bass with prawns, capers, veg and mash was also excellent – along with the selection of desserts I was given to take away.
- Deli-cious– a friendly, local deli serving sandwiches, salads, sausage rolls and sweet treats. What makes this place really special is the fresh seafood on offer; lobster rolls, dressed crab or a fantastic full platter, all beautifully prepared by Janice and caught by her husband Dan on his fishing boat.
The Salt Cellar
Where to Stay in Lossiemouth
Seatown Cottage
I spent three wonderful, cosy nights in Seatown Cottage; a traditional fisherman’s cottage in the historic Seatown area, dating from around 1850. The charming cottage has been restored to a very high standard with gorgeous furnishings, comfy sofas, a huge bath, and gas/log effect fires. Wendy and her husband provide everything you could possibly need, including a breakfast pack of bread, butter, milk, eggs, and bacon.
My favourite part of the cottage was the bedroom window seat looking out to the River Lossie with the classic red phone box in the foreground. As I sat there watching the sunrise over the cottage rooftops with a cup of tea in hand, I knew I had found a new ‘happy place’.
- The cottage sleeps 4 and is dog friendly
- Check availability and book your stay at Moray Coast Cottages
Lossiemouth House B&B
Built in 1779, Lossiemouth House is one of the oldest houses in the town. I had a brief look around this accommodation with the lovely owner Alison, who took me plane spotting and woodland walking. It is a grand property which retains its original charm, and with just 5 guest rooms, you are guaranteed a personal experience: Alison’s husband Hugh is a chef, who has had a very interesting career, so I can only imagine how good the breakfast will be!
- Check availability and book Lossiemouth House here
- For more accommodation in the town, browse the local listings here
My favourite things to do in Lossiemouth
I hope I have inspired you to visit Lossiemouth. I loved the time I spent there! I felt content, cosy and safe on my solo adventure by the sea, and can’t wait to return to the town to experience it all again.
If you enjoy my content, follow me on Facebook and Instagram for lots of travel updates and inspiration. Here are some other blog posts I think you’ll like.
Moray Speyside: My Top 10 Memorable Experiences
Moray Coast: Picture Perfect Fishing Villages
Keith & Dufftown Railway: A Nostalgic Journey Through Speyside
15 Things to Do in Inverness & Beyond
Road to the Isles: Destination Guide
This post is sponsored by Visit Lossiemouth. As always, all content, opinions & chaotic behaviour are my own.
Happy travels!
Kay 💙
