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Two men work on a wooden rowing boat numbered 98 on the grass beside a boathouse on a calm Moray bay.
Morayshire

Findhorn

A sailing village between the sheltered haven of Findhorn Bay and the long sands of Burghead Bay, rebuilt twice and full of boats.

Welcome

Findhorn sits at the mouth of a broad, sheltered bay on the Moray coast, with Findhorn Bay on one side and the long open sands of Burghead Bay on the other.

There is only one road in, which gives the village the feel of an island.

The Findhorn you see today is the third. A village stood here by 1189, but in the 1600s storms buried it in sand, and its successor was swept away by floods in 1701. The third grew into a busy port, building ships and trading with the Baltic and Scandinavia.

Today its life still turns on the water. The bay is one of the great sailing centres of the coast, home to the Royal Findhorn Yacht Club, and at low tide its mudflats fill with birds. Wooden boats sit on the grass by the shore, the inns put out picnic tables, and a short walk through the dunes brings you to a beach that runs for seven miles.

Before you go

A village to walk at any hour; the inns, cafes and shops keep their own hours.

Where
At the mouth of Findhorn Bay, north of Forres.
For
Sailing, birds and the beach.
Road
Only one road in.

Did you know

A row of stone terraced cottages catches the sun in a Moray village.
Did you know

The third Findhorn.

The first village was buried by sand in the 1600s and the second lost to floods in 1701; today's is the third.

A wooden rowing boat numbered 98 sits on the grass at a boathouse beside a calm bay in Moray, two men working nearby.
Did you know

A port for the Baltic.

Findhorn was once a busy port, with shipbuilding and trade to the Baltic and Scandinavia.

Ben Lerwill

From our guide to Moray

This historic fishing village on the Moray Firth is a gem of a traditional settlement with a long, unspoilt stretch of sandy beach, but is these days best known for the eco-village community on its outskirts. The internationally renowned Findhorn Foundation was founded back in the 1960s and has since welcomed tens of thousands of guests with its focus on kindness, joy, and spirituality.

Read more
What is on

What is new across Morayshire, day by day.

New places, news and stories, as we find them.

What is on in Morayshire
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Where it is

North of Forres at the mouth of Findhorn Bay, at the end of the only road in.

Close byFindhorn.
  1. Seared scallops and black pudding rounds encircle rice in a herb sauceCrown & Anchor InnUnder a mile 1 min by road
  2. Findhorn BeachFindhorn BeachSeven miles of sand just over the dunes.Under a mile 3 min by road
  3. The Captain's TableThe Captain's TableA restaurant and bar at the edge of Findhorn with views over the bay, serving fresh local food from scratch, with a dog menu too.Under a mile 3 min by road
  4. Water Taxi to Culbin Sands, MorayshireWater Taxi to Culbin SandsUnder a mile 3 min by road
  5. Findhorn EcovillageFindhorn EcovillageThe ecovillage at the Park, south of the village.1 mile 2 min by road
  6. Sandstone rock formations and pebbles along a shoreline with waves breakingBurghead Pictish FortThe Pictish fort across Burghead Bay.10 miles 17 min by road
Directions
Wildlife Boat Trip from Findhorn Marina, MorayshireActivityNorth 58 Sea Adventures0.8 miles
Carved stone pillar enclosed in a tall glass protective tower on parklandAttractionsSueno’s Stone4.5 miles
White castellated tower on a hilltop path lined with bare winter treesAttractionsNelson's Tower4.6 miles
Cafe 1496 on Forres High Street, a white shopfront with gold lettering, a wreath on the door and blue tables outside.CafeCafe 14964.9 miles
ShoppingULY + RO, Forres5.0 miles
Bare trees frame a sandy beach and calm sea beyondAttractionsRoseisle Forest5.4 miles
Rodney's Stone standing in a small wattle-fenced enclosure on the lawn by the drive to Brodie Castle, a walker passing.AttractionsRodney’s Stone8.6 miles
Turreted castle with crow-stepped gables overlooking a striped lawn and gravel driveAttractionsThe Playful Garden8.8 miles
Gravel path leads to a turreted Scottish castle under grey skiesAttractionsBrodie Castle9.1 miles
The Daily for 19 October, from Scotland with love. bare tree stumps standing in an autumn loch, forested hills reflected in the still water

The Daily

Arrives at 5am every day.

A free morning email to see what’s on this week, catch up on what’s happening in Scotland and find somewhere new to go.

Stay nearby

Places to stay near the village, and when each is next free.

Culbin Edge, Inverness-shireCulbin Edge
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Brodie
  • 6 miles from Findhorn
Free 9–11 NovThe timber cabin lit at dusk against a pink sky, a hot tub steaming on the deck beside two chairs.Callie Bothy
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Pluscarden
  • 8 miles from Findhorn
Free 19–22 OctA curved cabin clad in overlapping wooden shingles stands on gravel among wildflowers, arched windows and a door along one side.Boath Cabin
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Nairn
  • 9 miles from Findhorn
Free 19–21 OctThe Gatehouse, MorayshireThe Gatehouse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Elgin
  • 15 miles from Findhorn
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in MorayshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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