CATHALLAN COTTAGE
Welcome to Cathallan Cottage which is a typical fishermans semi detached cottage in a sea front location of Buckpool, Buckie, Morayshire. It has superb uninterrupted views over the Moray Firth.
The Moray Firth has a micro climate all of its own, often warmer than other areas of Scotland, and is the home to a resident population of Bottle Nosed Dolphins that can be seen travelling back and forth along the coastline.
Nearby you can also see seals basking on the rocky foreshore or bobbing their heads out of the water. One of Scotland's famous walks the "Speyside Way" passes closely past the gable end of the Cottage, the walk starts from Buckpool's Harbour, which has been filled in to provide a children's play area. The Town of Buckie has an active Port, where many small fishing boats can be seen leaving and returning. The Buckie Lifeboat can be seen out at sea undertaking training excercises. The local Shipyard fits out Lifeboats for many Ports throughout the UK and abroad. Dolphin watching trips also leave from here.
GOLF
Morayshire is a golfer's paradise with so many links and parkland courses to choose from. The nearest being a real gem Buckpool. Strathlene and Cullen courses are also nearby and worth a visit.
Listed below are more fine Morayshire courses, some well known and other real hidden gems all within an hour's drive.
Spey Bay Duff House Royal Turriff Royal Tarlair Ballindalloch Castle Dufftown
Elgin Garmouth & KIngston Forres Hopeman Kinloss Country Keith
Moray New Moray Old Nairn Nairn Dunbar Grantown on Spey Rothes
WHISKY LOVERS.
Speyside is a famous area for producing Scotland's amber nectar, Scotch Whisky. Morayshire boasts a great number of distilleries producing an excellent variety of blended and malt whiskys.
The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival takes place from 29 April to 3 May 2010.(see at www.spiritofspeyside.com)
The following Speyside distilleries are a selection of some of the ones that are easily accessable within a couple of hours drive and all are open to the public.
Aberlour Distillery, Aberlour Benromach Distillery, Forres Cardhu Distillery, Knockando
Cragganmore Distillery,Ballindalloch Dallas Dhu Distillery, Forres Glen Grant Distillery, Rothes
Glen Moray Distillery, Elgin Glenfarclas Distillery, Balindalloch Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown
Strathisla Distillery, Keith The Glenlivet Distillery, Dufftown. The Macallan Distillery, Craigellachie
SPEYSIDE COOPERAGE CRAIGELLACHIE
In the heart of Scotland’s rolling hills lies Speyside Cooperage, the only working cooperage in the UK where you can witness and experience the ancient art of coopering.
Since 1947, the family owned Speyside Cooperage has produced the finest casks from the best American Oak. Today the cooperage continues to work and produce the age-old product, still using traditional methods and tools. Although shipped across the world, many of the casks remain in Scotland, providing a vital ingredient in Scotland’s whisky making process. Pay us a visit and we will take you on a journey through the lifecycle of the cask, see our highly skilled coopers at work, try it for yourself with our mini casks or simply relax and enjoy our gift and coffee shop.
WALKING
Moray is an ideal county for walkers of all abilities. There is a nearby path from Portgordon to Spey Bay and beyond.
You can walk to the start via the coastal path from the cottage. There are also many woodland walks in the area.
The start to Scotland's famouse long-distance walk the Speyside Way is only a few of hundred yards away beside the old Buckpool Harbour site. It also passes the gable end of the cottage.
Why not visit the Speyside Way Visitors Centre at Aberlour open Daily 10am-5pm (May to October).
The Coastal Trail all along the coast takes in the many picturesque villages Portessie, Findochty, Sandend, Portsoy & Pennan and the tiniest is Crovie, one row of houses between the sea and the cliffs.
See the Osprey and other bird life at Spey Bay, where, in the summer months, you can also see the salmon leaping.
You can also visit the Ice House Museum or takea stroll along the River Spey.
HISTORY
If you are interested in the local history and the fishing industry, the Buckie Heritage Centre is well worth a visit as are Portsoy, Elgin and Banff Heritage Centres.
HIGHLAND GAMES
Scotland is the home of the Highland Games, where you can see pipe bands, highland dancing, tossing the caber, tug- of- war and many other events for your entertainment.
Here are some venues across Moray and all are within a reasonable drive away.
Blair Atholl Gathering
& Highland Games 30 May 2010 Cornhill 5 June 2010 Forres 10 July 2010
Abernethy 14 July 2010 Tomintoul & Strathavon 17 July 2010 Dufftown 31 July 2010
Aberlour & Strathspey 7 August 2010 Nairn 14 August 2010 Grantown on Spey 22 August 2010
Inverness 24 July 2010 Lonach Highland Gathering 28 August 2010
BEACHES AND ROCKPOOLING
On the shore a few yards away from the cottage you can spend hours rockpooling and discovering many of the little sea creatures. A number of safe, sandy beaches are situated a short drive away at Cullen, Sandend and Lossiemouth.
AGRICULTURAL SHOWS AND FESTIVALS
Keith Festival 11 to 13 June 2010 Keith Show 8 & 9 August 2010 Turriff Show 1 & 2 August 2010
Traditional Boat Festival Portsoy 26 & 27 June 2010 Speyfest Fochabers 29 July to 1 August 2010
Burgie International Horse Trials 17 to 20 June 2010 Coast at the Castle 28 to 30 May 2010
BUCKIE
There are a variety of Hotels, Pubs, Supermarkets, Restaurants, Fish and Chip shops, a Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre and a range of other shops and cafes. Buckie is also home to Buckie Thisle FC who play in the Highland League. Further afield are Elgin and Inverness, both of which have good shopping centres set against an attractive historical backdrop. The quaint conservation area of The Yardie is a short walk from the cottage.
TRAVEL FURTHER A FIELD
To many people, a visit to Scotland is not complete without a trip to Loch Ness and it is undeniably a most beautiful spot. Within easy driving distance, the Loch is the largest loch in Scotland and is very deep in places and is the home to the Loch Ness Monster. Take a sailing trip out on the loch and see if you can spot our Nessie!
CASTLES
The Castle Trail is also a popular tourist route and is a good opportunity to see a variety of beautiful Scottish Architecture and landscaped gardens.
Cawdor Castle between Nairn and Inverness. Set in wooded grounds, the present buildings date from the early 14th century, but the old drawbridge over the defensive
ditch now takes tourists into the central square tower.
Findlater Castle, Sandend, Portsoy - A ruined castle perched on a rock outcrop.
Brodie Castle, Forres - Set in peaceful parkland, full of beautiful art and antiques.
Duff House, Banff A great day out including woodland walks, gallery, shop, tea room.
BIRDWATCHING
Bird watchers will find a rich variety of sea and shore birds close by. Ospreys can be seen fishing in the river Spey as it enters the sea at Spey Bay which is just a few miles to the west. At Troup Head RSPB Reserve, only a few miles to the east, you will find the only mainland Gannet Colony in Scotland.
SEALIFE
Both Common and Grey Seals can often be seen just a few minutes' walk from the cottage between Buckpool and Portgordon.
Bottlenose Dolphins can also be seen from the foreshore outside the cottage and from the kitchen window. To get a closer look you can take a boat trip with Moray Firth Boat Charters(see Links page) or the Gemini Explorer which leaves from Buckie Harbour. For a close-up view of Marine Life, visit MacDuff Aquarium, a few miles east along the coast.
CHILDRENS ART COMPETITION
During your stay at you can enter the Cathallan Cottage Art competition by either painting a picture, painting a stone or making a wooden sculpture from drift wood. There are three age groups, with prizes for best entries. Paints etc are provided.
This is the initial entry for the Art Competition
an excellent Easter Chick emerging from its
egg completed by Hayley Sinclair from
Aberdeen. Well done Hayley
This is another entry for the Art Competition an excellent Tortoise created and sculpted by Ellie Cryer from Littleborough, Lancashire."Weel deen" as we might say in Buckie, or Well Done Ellie