Spey Bay Pods

The north coast of Scotland is famously full of gorgeous scenery – and you’ll be able to see some of it while you’re here, whether you’re driving the NC500 or not. Hopefully you’ll be able to see some of the local wildlife too; dolphins and seals can sometimes be spotted from the coast, or you can take a boat trip from Buckie (15 minutes’ drive). There are some lovely walks along the coast too, or you may opt to head inland slightly for places like the Bin of Cullen walk (20 minutes), climbing a hill for sweeping views of the coastline. Staying local might also take you to Byres Farm (five minutes), a great family attraction with lots of activities for the kids. Looking a little further afield, you may like to visit Elgin (20 minutes) for the cathedral and Moray Motor Museum or head to Dufftown (half an hour) to visit some of its distilleries, including Glenfiddich and Balvenie. Stop at the Speyside Cooperage Visitor Centre (25 minutes) en route to learn about the traditional barrel-making process. Culbin Forest (an hour) has peaceful trails through woodland and coastal landscapes. Meanwhile, for some local history, track down the Brodie Castle and Estate (50 minutes).