Moray is a council area in north-east Scotland, on the southern shore of the Moray Firth between Inverness and Banff. It covers 2,238 km2 (864 sq mi) and had a population of 93,293 at the 2022 census. The council is based in Elgin, the largest town.
The area runs from a fertile coastal plain, the Laich of Moray, up the Spey valley into the Cairngorms. Its best-known industry is whisky: Speyside holds roughly half of Scotland’s malt distilleries, most of them within Moray’s boundary.
| Country | Scotland, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Status | Council area; historic county of Morayshire |
| Area | 864 sq mi (2,238 km2) |
| Population (2022) | 93,293 |
| Population (2011) | 93,295 |
| Density | 42 people per km2 |
| Largest town | Elgin (25,040) |
| Administrative centre | Elgin |
| Council | Moray Council |
| Postcode areas | IV30–IV32, IV36, AB37–AB38, AB55–AB56 |
Towns and Villages in Moray
Moray has 166 named towns, villages and hamlets, listed alphabetically below. Elgin, Forres, Buckie, Lossiemouth and Keith are the towns; the coast holds a line of fishing villages and the Spey valley a line of distillery villages.
- Achnastank
- Aldroughty
- Altonside
- Archiestown
- Ardwell
- Arradoul
- Auchbreck
- Auchenhalrig
- Auchindachy
- Auchindoun
- Auchnarrow
- Auchtertyre
- Aultmore
- Ballindalloch
- Bank of Roseisle
- Berryhillock
- Birnie
- Blackburn
- Blackhills
- Bogmoor
- Bracobrae
- Branderburgh
- Bridge of Achbreck
- Bridge of Lossie
- Bridgend of Livet
- Broadley
- Brodie
- Broom of Moy
- Buckie
- Burghead
- Buthill
- Cabrach
- Califer
- Cardhu
- Carnach
- Carron
- Chapeltown
- Charlestown
- Charlestown of Aberlour
- Clackmarras
- Clochan
- Cloddach
- Cloddymoss
- College of Roseisle
- Coltfield
- Conicavel
- Covesea
- Covesea Village
- Cragganmore
- Craigellachie
- Craighead
- Cranloch
- Crannach
- Crook of Alves
- Cullen
- Cummingstown
- Dallas
- Darkland
- Darklass
- Davoch of Grange
- Deerhill
- Delnabo
- Denhead
- Dipple
- Drum
- Drumin
- Drummuir
- Drumnagorrach
- Drybridge
- Dryburn
- Dufftown
- Duffus
- Dyke
- Easter Elchies
- Easter Gaulrig
- Elgin
- Enzie
- Farmtown
- Fife Keith
- Findhorn
- Findochty
- Fochabers
- Fogwatt
- Forgie
- Forres
- Garmouth
- Glen Rinnes
- Glenlatterach
- Glenlivet
- Grange Crossroads
- Greenfold
- Hopeman
- Ianstown
- Inchberry
- Inchrory
- Keith
- Kellas
- Kingston
- Kinloss
- Kintessack
- Kirktown of Deskford
- Kirktown of Mortlach
- Knock
- Knockandhu
- Knockando
- Lawrenceton
- Letterfourie
- Lhanbryde
- Lintmill
- Loanhead
- Lochhill
- Logie
- Longhill
- Longmorn
- Lossiemouth
- Lower Auchenreath
- Lower Cabrach
- Maggieknockater
- Mains of Sluie
- Marypark
- Milltown
- Milltown of Edinvillie
- Milltown of Rothiemay
- Miltonduff
- Moor of Granary
- Mosstodloch
- Mosstowie
- Muir of Lochs
- Muirton
- Mulben
- Nether Dallachy
- Newmill
- Newton of Dalvey
- Orbliston
- Ordiquish
- Orton
- Paddockhaugh
- Paithnick
- Palmerscross
- Pittendreich
- Pluscarden
- Portessie
- Portgordon
- Portknockie
- Quarrywood
- Rafford
- Rathven
- Redford
- Redstone
- Robertstown
- Rothes
- Sillyearn
- Spey Bay
- Stotfield
- Thomshill
- Tomintoul
- Tomnavoulin
- Towiemore
- Upper Dallachy
- Urquhart
- Wester Gaulrig
- Whitehill
- Whiteinch
- Whitemire
- Whitewreath
- Woodside
By population the order runs Elgin (25,040), Forres (9,900), Buckie (8,430), Lossiemouth (6,840), Keith (4,740), Lhanbryde (1,970), Burghead (1,840), Hopeman (1,710), Fochabers (1,690) and Dufftown (1,660).
Geography
The Moray Firth coast runs about 50 miles from Culbin Sands in the west to Cullen in the east, with sandstone cliffs and fishing harbours from Burghead round to Portknockie. Behind it the Laich of Moray is level, well-drained farmland, and one of the driest and sunniest parts of Scotland: annual rainfall at Elgin averages around 600 mm.
The land rises south into the Cairngorms National Park, which takes in Tomintoul, Glenlivet and the Braes of Glenlivet. Ben Rinnes, above Dufftown, reaches 840 m.
Three rivers cross the area to the firth: the Findhorn in the west, the Lossie through Elgin, and the Spey, which enters the sea at Kingston and Garmouth. The Spey is the fastest-flowing large river in Scotland and among its longest.
Highland borders Moray to the west and south-west; Aberdeenshire lies to the east and south-east.
Demographics
Scotland’s Census 2022 counted 93,293 residents, effectively unchanged from 93,295 in 2011 — a fall of two people, and the flattest result of any Scottish council area. Density is 42 people per km2.
Roughly a quarter of the population lives in Elgin. The rest is spread across the coastal burghs, the Spey valley and scattered farm townships; the upland parishes of Cabrach, Glenlivet and Knockando hold only a few hundred people each.
The armed forces account for an unusually large share of residents. RAF Lossiemouth and Kinloss Barracks together support several thousand service personnel and their families, which lifts the working-age population around Lossiemouth, Elgin and Forres.
Economy and Local Life
Whisky comes first. Distilleries in Moray include Glenfiddich and Balvenie at Dufftown, Macallan and Craigellachie at Craigellachie, The Glenlivet at Ballindalloch, Cardhu at Knockando, Glen Grant at Rothes, Glenfarclas at Marypark and Strathisla at Keith. Speyside Cooperage at Craigellachie makes and repairs casks for much of the industry.
Defence is the second pillar. RAF Lossiemouth flies Typhoon and P-8A Poseidon aircraft and is one of the RAF’s two main fast-jet bases; Kinloss Barracks houses army engineers.
Food and drink beyond whisky is substantial: Baxters at Fochabers, Walkers Shortbread at Aberlour, and Gordon and MacPhail in Elgin. Fishing continues from Buckie, the largest port on the coast, and there is seed potato, barley and beef farming across the Laich. Forestry works the Culbin and Monaughty plantations.
History
Moray was a province of early medieval Scotland whose rulers held the title of Mormaer. Macbeth, who reigned as king from 1040 to 1057, was Mormaer of Moray before taking the throne.
Elgin Cathedral, begun in 1224, was known as the Lantern of the North. Alexander Stewart, the Wolf of Badenoch, burned it and much of the burgh in 1390 after a quarrel with the bishop; it was rebuilt, then abandoned after the Reformation and is now a ruin in state care.
The county was known as Elginshire and later Morayshire. Great sand storms buried the Culbin estate west of Findhorn in 1694; the dunes were finally stabilised with forestry from the 1920s. The Moray Firth herring boom built the coastal burghs in the 1800s, and Buckie was for a time one of the busiest fishing ports in Scotland.
Getting There
The A96 runs the length of the area, linking Inverness to Aberdeen through Forres, Elgin and Keith. The A98 follows the coast east from Fochabers to Banff, the A95 runs up Speyside past Craigellachie to Grantown, and the A941 connects Elgin to Rothes and Dufftown.
The Aberdeen to Inverness railway stops at Forres, Elgin and Keith, with Elgin about 40 minutes from Inverness. Inverness Airport at Dalcross is roughly 20 miles west of Forres; Aberdeen Airport is about 60 miles east of Elgin.
The Speyside Way, a long-distance path, runs 65 miles from Buckie up the Spey to Aviemore, with a spur to Tomintoul.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Moray?
93,293 at the 2022 census, essentially unchanged from 93,295 in 2011.
What is the largest town in Moray?
Elgin, with about 25,040 people. Forres (9,900), Buckie (8,430) and Lossiemouth (6,840) follow.
How many villages are in Moray?
166 named settlements in total, of which five are towns and the rest villages, fishing harbours and farm hamlets.
How many distilleries are in Moray?
More than 45 malt distilleries operate in the Speyside region, and the large majority sit within Moray. Dufftown alone has several, including Glenfiddich and Balvenie.
What postcodes does Moray use?
IV30 to IV32 and IV36 in the west around Elgin and Forres, and AB37, AB38, AB55 and AB56 in the east and on Speyside.
Where is Moray?
On the southern shore of the Moray Firth in north-east Scotland, between Highland to the west and Aberdeenshire to the east.