Summer in Moray and Speyside is never dull

The visitor to this beautiful area is spoilt for choice as there is something going on every week in every part of the region.  If you like outdoor activities then there are fun-runs, historic mountain runs, dramathons and cycling but only a sample of the range on offer.  If you like the coast then there are the 5 harbour races, the Glenlassaugh sponsored Portsoy Traditional Boat Festival, and the highly anticipated Tall Ships Race that hasn’t been to Aberdeen in over 20 years

For those that come to Scotland, and this area in particular, there are the various Highland Games and the accompanying spotlight on the pipe bands, the various sports and highland dancing.  The individual highland games are highly anticipated and very individual in their formats, but highly competitive, with the athletes competing in each of them to be named the winner for the year of a specific event.

What visitors perhaps don’t appreciate are the numerous events that go on every night of the week in every village with a warm welcome for anyone that would like to come along.  Quiz nights, the Stramash where live music and singing is on offer and anyone can bring an instrument and join in.  If whisky or even gin is your tipple then various tastings take place both in the distilleries but also in the village halls and British Legion Scotland venues with driver packs available for anyone who is unable to partake at the time.

This summer we have been graced with unexpected visitors.  We have had a film crew in Moray filming the new Odyssey film with Matt Damon, Tom Hollander, Anne Hathaway,  Zandaya, Lupita Nyong’o,  Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and Jon Bernthal, among others. It has been rather fun watching the Viking Long boat. The ‘Draken Herald’ has been a familiar sight over the last few weeks in July, moored in Buckie harbour and sailing along the coast with film crew aboard.  We now await the arrival of President Trump who is visiting his new golf course in Aberdeenshire.

Photo: (CC) Ronnie Robertson