20 Attractions to Explore Near Hopeman East Beach

Sculptor's Cave is located on a beach of the Moray Firth, near Covesea. Lying below the beachside cliffs, the cave is accessible via two separate passages. There is evidence that this cave was an important place of ritual practice in the past. Bronze Age artifacts and clay pottery have been found within the cave and more disturbingly, a large number of human remains, predominantly those of children.

Burghead Well stands in the north-eastern corner of what was once a great Pictish fort. Three huge ramparts and ditches cut off the headland heading into the Moray Firth. Behind them lay an inner fort, dating to about AD 500. Burghead may have served as a Pictish navy base, but it was destroyed by fire in the 800s.

Duffus Castle is a Norman motte and bailey castle augmented by a later stone keep. The original Norman motte and bailey fortress was composed of an impressive earthwork mound standing out from the low-lying Leigh of Moray, surrounded by a timber palisade. The castle was substantially rebuilt in the thirteenth century including construction of the large Keep seen today. Duffus was attacked on numerous occasions but remained in use until the eighteenth century.

Moray Golf Club is situated in Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland. The club has two eighteen-hole courses appropriately called the Old Course and the New Course. The club has played host to many championships, both amateur and professional. The old and new courses were designed by Old Tom Morris and Henry Cotton respectively.

Glen Moray distillery has been producing fine single malt since 1897. The locally malted barley and pure waters of the River Lossie combine to produce this delicate well-balanced whisky. The distillery has a visitor centre which offers tours and tastings year-round. Details can be found on the company website here: Distillery Tours. Scotland's Malt Whisky Trail is a tourism initiative featuring seven working Speyside distilleries including Glen Moray, a historic distillery and the Speyside Coope

This pebbly beach continues into sand when walking in a westward direction. Admire the pretty dunes and look out for birds and the famous resident Moray Firth bottlenose dolphins. It has traditionally been a popular location for surfers. There are also so many things to do here.

This lovely stretch of beach, backed by grassy dunes lies approximately mid-way between Nairn and Banff, at the mouth of the River Lossie. 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. 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

Spynie Palace was the fortified residence of the Bishops of Moray, standing some two miles north of Elgin on the edge of Spynie Loch, a sea loch providing direct access and a safe anchorage. It was also the centre of a thriving settlement. Today the splendid ruins of the Palace remain, but the loch is only a shadow of its former self and the medieval town has disappeared.

The Duke of Gordon's Monument is a commemorative monument on Lady Hill near Elgin, Scotland. Built in honour of George Gordon, the 5th Duke of Gordon, the monument takes the form of a Tuscan column, 80 feet high, and 6 feet 9 inches wide at the base. The column is hollow, with a spiral staircase leading up the shaft which gives access to the top. It was erected in 1839, and a statue of Gordon, sculpted by Thomas Goodwillie, was installed on the top in 1855. It is designated as a Category A liste

Elgin Museum is Scotland's oldest independent museum, located in Elgin, Moray, Scotland. Its collections cover area fossils and geology, archaeology, ethnography, art and local history. Opened in 1843, it is one of the oldest independent museums in the country. The museum is run by The Moray Society. Its fossil collection is classed as a Recognised Collection by Museums Galleries Scotland.

This beautiful garden stands in a fitting location a little north of Elgin Cathedral and on the opposite side of King Street. Beyond the gate is a remarkable three acre space, a "garden of repose" in which it is visitors can relax and enjoy the natural world. And, if they wish, follow the complex web of biblical references contained within both the planting and the hard landscaping.

Elgin Cathedral, known as the ‘Lantern of the North’, is one of Scotland’s most beautiful medieval cathedrals. The cathedral was once richly carved and adorned with stained glass and painted decoration. A fine collection of architectural fragments hints at the building’s lost beauty, while documentary evidence sheds light on religious life at Elgin.

Loch Spynie is a small loch located between the towns of Elgin and Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. Close to Spynie Palace, the ancient home of the bishops of Moray, it is an important wildlife habitat which is protected as a Ramsar Site. It is a remnant of a great wetland that stretched from the western shore of the current loch to the mouth of the River Lossie and, at that time, many of the settlements along the Moray coast were actually islands in the Moray Firth.

The Findhorn Foundation and Community is a spiritual community and holistic learning centre – an experiential search into new ways of living. We welcome guests to become part of the ongoing exploration. The Foundation has two main sites. The Foundation offers a range of workshops, programmes and events in the environment of a working ecovillage. The programmes are intended to give participants practical experience of how to apply spiritual values in daily life. Approximately 3000 participants fr

Findhorn is one of the more popular beaches along the Moray coastline thanks to the long, unspoilt sandy stretch of the shore and the natural beauty of this spot. It is a good place to see seals hauled out at low tide on the sandbank at the mouth of the River Findhorn. The top of the beach is shingle, so at high tide there is little sand exposed. The village itself has a couple of good pubs, a restaurant and a cafe.Public Toilets.

Pluscarden Abbey was founded in 1230 for Valliscaulian monks by King Alexander II. It is the only mediaeval monastery still in use for its original purpose in Britain. In 1948, the priory became a house of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation of Benedictines, and restoration began at the hands of monks from Prinknash Abbey in Gloucestershire. In 1966, the priory received its independence from the mother-house; it was elevated to abbatial status in 1974.

Sueno's Stone is the largest and most spectacular of the many carved stones that have survived from the early medieval period in Scotland. It stands in a purpose built glass shelter on the north eastern edge of the town of Forres beside a disused spur of road near the roundabout between the B9011 and the A96. The stone was erected c. 850–950 but by whom and for what, is unknown.

Nelson Tower was built by the Forres Trafalgar Club to commemorate Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar. From the top it affords spectacular views of the town and Findhorn Bay while it overlooks the town from the summit of Cluny Hill. When you get to the tower you will be able to climb the 96 steps to the viewing area on the roof. Please take care inside the tower as the floor and stairs have uneven stone surfaces.

Forres golf course is a more than century-old golf course located in Forres in the northern part of Scotland on the Moray coast. In 1889 James Braid designed and created the original nine holes, and in 1912 the course was expanded to eighteen holes by Willie Park. The 6,236-yard, par-70 course has hosted the Scottish Professional Championship tournament. The course professional is Sandy Aird, a PGA member since 1971 who has worked for the Scottish Golf Union since 1996 as North District golf coa

A spectacular park located in the heart of Moray. There are places to rest in the park. In spring and summer the flowerbeds are very picturesque. In autumn the trees are spectacular but beware of fallen leaves on the paths, which can make them very slippy if wet. You can extend this walk by joining onto Cluny Hill paths.