Scotland - The home of fly-fishing and golf
Numerous attractions in the area include fly-fishing on the rivers Lossie and the Spey, as well as in varioius lochs in the area.
For the perfect outdoor experience - and since Scotland is synonymous with both fly-fishing and golf - there are several top golf clubs and links courses to choose from in the immediate area.
Try your hand at fly-fishing for Salmon or brown trout on the rivers or at Lochindorb, a free loch. Privately owned fly-fishing lochs offer training - from beginners to advanced - as well as equipment hire.
While you're at the water, chances are good that you'll spot an osprey.
Burghead harbour
Sea-fishing and dolphin spotting, as well as the famous white, outstretched beaches and picturesque fishing villages along the outstretched coastline of the Moray Firth, are a few minutes to the north.
The perfect base from which to explore ...
Visit the Elgin Museum, one of the oldest independent museums in Scotland, or the Falconer Museum in Forres, celebrating the life of Hugh Falconer, contributor to Darwin's theories of evolution. In addition, there are excellent museums in many of the surrounding fisher towns such as Buckie, Lossiemouth and Nairn.
The hidden world of the Moray Firth is revealed in the aquarium at Banff.Enjoy the stillness at the ruins of the once powerfull Kinloss Abbey, or cycle to the beautiful, tranquil Pluscarden Abbey nearby.
Specially built cycling trails and tailor-made hiking paths are found all over Moray, such as those at Culbin (Forestry Commission Scotland), where you'll discover the dramatic Culbin story.
Or cycle through the Cairngorm National Park, which is less than an hour away by car to the south.
Stroll or cycle as long or as short as you like along the meandering Speyside Way, or take the family for an excellent day out to Landmark, an outdoor adventure playpark situated in the forest at Carbridge.
In addition to walking and climbing, the area offers tennis, clay pigeon shooting, skiing and horse riding.
Airports and car hire as well as regular train services are available from both Inverness to the west and Aberdeen to the east.
Visit Loch Ness, experience a wealth of history, from the Picts and Romans through to Culloden and Bonnie Prince Charlie. Visit Macbeth’s castle, or take a scenic day-trip to Balmoral.
Distilleries
There's a saying here that goes: Nowhere in the Highlands can you throw a stone without it landing on a distillery ... and this is true. There are numerous malt whisky distilleries open to visitors in every direction. Most of them offer guided tours through their works, often a short video presentation on the tradition and ancient art of whisky making and sometimes a wee dram to taste the produce of the distillery.
Glenfiddich, by Dufftown, is about half an hour away by car.
No matter what your favourite Scotch brand or brands - Bell's, Dewar's, Johnny Walker, Aberlour, various distilleries owned by the Chivas Brothers - they all are on your doorstep when you holiday in the woods.
The Spey, famous for its Salmon, is postcard pretty, also in winter.