On windy days it’s popular with surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers
Aside ACE Taxis, Moray’s coastline is one of the best things about Moray. And we have a lot of it, around 50 miles and all different, from golden sandy beaches at Lossiemouth, Roseisle and Cullen to rock, cliff and pebbles at Findhorn and Spey Bay.
As you can imagine, the beaches, particularly on sunny summer days are a great attraction for visitors and also for those of us who live here particularly the more junior members of the Cowie family. And for adults too, there‘s something about the sea that really is relaxing especially after a hard day spent in the office or in our case, the car. But it’s not just summer, the beach is popular all year round with people just wanting a stroll, dog walkers or children running along the beach, rolling down the sand dunes or building sandcastles whatever the weather, we’ve all been there with the kids, freezing on the beach watching them dig for Britain.
On windy days it’s popular with surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers, kayakers and paddleboarders not to mention yachting, fishing, photography and landscape painting. With so much of it in Moray, it’s difficult to find a crowded beach, even on the hottest of summer days.
However there is one visitor to Moray’s coast who makes a much bigger splash than most, usually brings his family or rather pod. Dolphins, particularly bottlenose dolphins, and this time of year is a good time to spot them in the Moray Firth especially at river mouths as they search for tasty snacks such as salmon. It’s no guarantee but the one place in Moray to give you a good chance of spotting them is the dolphin centre at Spey Bay. https://dolphincentre.whales.org/.
This centre, housed in an 18th century salmon fishing station is located at the point where the river Spey flows into the Moray Firth (take the turn off for the B9104 from Fochabers or just give us a call and we can transport you there and back in the comfort of Ace Taxis), it is open from April to October seven days a week 1030 hrs to 1700 hrs and free entry (although donations are welcome to help with their various projects). It is also open in the winter months but with slightly shorter hours.
The centre has webcams on the Moray Firth and on the Spey so there are lots of opportunities to watch Scotland’s wildlife in its habitat right on our doorstep and you can also help keep a record for the centre on what you see. Although a rare sight, Orcas or killer whales do visit the Moray Firth from time to time (often chasing the seals) and if you do manage to see these you really are in for a treat as these huge, magnificent creatures rise up from the sea before plunging back down into its depths. Whilst dolphins are an infrequent visitor and whales are rare visitor, the common or grey seal is a regular visitor and one who likes to bask in the sun giving you a chance to study them (through binoculars of course), and Spey Bay is teeming with birdlife waders and divers and if you are lucky you could spot an osprey. The dolphin centre has plenty of display boards around and helpful staff to help with identification. Top tip is to take a photograph of a bird or plant that you see and then try to work out what it was from the display boards.
Throughout the summer the Dolphin centre lays on a number of events for the public to take part in, such as guided walks, a children’s wildlife club and interactive events, although booking is recommended, if you wish to visit let us know and we can see what’s on for you. For that essential souvenir (lots dolphin/whale related) there is a well-stocked shop.
And if all that wildlife watching gives you an appetite do make sure you pop into the café (although do not the café closes at 4.30pm) for some well-deserved tea and of course some cake!
This rich wildlife spot is a must see on any tour of Moray. Ace Tours can include it in any tour or take you there as a one off so that you can spend as much of the day as you wish there.
