Blackhills is ideally situated to explore all that Moray Speyside and the Highlands have to offer.
If you're looking for incredible scenery, long sandy beaches, dolphins, the iconic Speyside whisky trail, fishing, golf courses, castles, tartan or our Nessie monster, Blackhills' self-catering cottages provide the perfect base for your visit to the Highlands. We will provide all our guests with a visitor pack on arrival and we will always be on hand to point you in the right direction.
A taste of Speyside history...
One of the country's most famous exports, Scotch whisky production is embedded in Highland culture, with the highest concentration of working distilleries here in Speyside. The milder micro-climate of the region lends itself to the cultivation of barley and once combined with the pristine water of the Spey, some of the world’s favourite whiskies can be made.
The full story of ‘the water of life’ is revealed in the Malt Whisky Trail from its illicit production in secret distilleries, through industrialisation in the 19th century, to the globally popular brands of today. There are 40 distilleries within a 30-minute drive and 55 within a one-hour drive from your cottage!
The Glen Moray Distillery, founded in 1897, welcomes visitors from Monday to Friday and is only six miles away from Blackhills.
Fast rivers and richly-populated seas...
The River Spey boasts some of the most idyllic riverscapes for walkers, fishers and cyclists to experience. One of the fastest in the Highlands, it is renowned for excellent salmon and trout fishing. The Findhorn sweeps out into the Moray Firth with its long stretches of fine sandy beaches.
Wild sealife aplenty call this part of the Highlands home including dolphins, porpoises, whales and seals. Seabird populations thrive here, too, with gannets, puffins, razorbills and guillemots enjoying the rich bounty of the sea. Many of the best fishing beats are within easy reach of Blackhills. The salmon season runs from February to September; the beautiful riverscapes are open to you all year long.
Within striking distance...
Being the national sport, Highlanders are proud of their many prestigious golf courses, and the Moray coast is spoilt for choice. Tee off at Royal Dornoch (one of the top ten courses in the world), or at Nairn, which has hosted both the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup competitions.
There’s also Castle Stuart, with its astonishing scenery, and another ten links within twenty miles of Blackhills. Whether a coastal link or one tucked away in the countryside, there are enticing options for golfers of all abilities.
Take a stroll or test your stamina...
Largely following the valley of the River Spey, the Speyside Way is one of Scotland’s four official Long Distance Routes, linking Spey Bay on the Moray coast to the edge of the Grampian Mountains. On its route, walkers and cyclists can enjoy a range of breathtaking Highland scenery, from the ocean views of the Bay, through moors, woodland and mountains as one passes the Cairngorms.
If all-terrain hiking isn’t for you, fantastic walks on lower ground are also possible. The Speyside Way can be joined a mere six miles from the Blackhills Estate. Moray Monster Trails offer cyclists a range of single-track mountain bike routes around the nearby Fochabers area, ranging from easy - ‘The Soup Dragon’ - to the more challenging ‘Fochabers Ring’. ’The Gully Monster’ is for experts only!
The coast and the catch...
A twenty-minute drive from Blackhills brings you to Spey Bey and the Moray Sunshine Coast. Linking the royal burghs of Forres and Cullen, this Great Trail leads you to long stretches of fine beaches, dramatic cliffs and idyllic fishing villages all the way. No matter how you like to travel, be it on foot, bicycle or horseback, this feast of Scottish scenery is open to you.
Like sailing? Then why not charter a yacht at Loch Ness or take to the open sea? Some of Scotland’s finest seafood is caught and served in restaurants along this coastline, with little time between the two!