Moray sits on Scotland’s northeast coast, bounded by the Moray Firth to the north and by Aberdeenshire and Highland inland. Settlements include Elgin, Forres, Lossiemouth, Buckie and Dufftown, and the River Spey runs through the area toward the firth. Elgin Cathedral stands as a large medieval ruin at the town centre and RAF Lossiemouth operates on the coast near the harbour. Much of Speyside whisky production takes place along the Spey and its side valleys, with distilleries clustered around small towns such as Dufftown and Craigellachie.
The coastline has working harbours, sandy beaches and cliffs, and the firth is a regular place to see bottlenose dolphins. Inland, estates and river beats are used for salmon fishing on the Spey. Burghead preserves a Pictish promontory fort and each January the town still lights the Clavie to mark the old new-year custom. Parts of the southern extent of Moray reach into the Cairngorms National Park, where hills give way to woodland and river plain.
