The village
“Aye afloat”
Portknockie is a quiet village, with a nice balance of facilities and space. Its history can be traced back to 1677, with the nineteenth century being a period of significant growth. Over 100 boats landed fish in the harbour at one time.
There’s a good range of walking routes around the village and the famous Bow Fiddle rock just a few minutes walk from the front door.
To the West, the harbour, which has a paddling pool and barbecue area, is popular from Spring to Autumn with water enthusiasts. Swimmers, kayakers and paddle boarders take advantage of the protective harbour walls to enjoy a turn in the water.
Head East and you can enjoy a spectacular walk around the coast and down the steps to Jenny’s Well and on towards the beach.
No matter which way you go, wildlife watchers can enjoy seeing dolphins as well as a wide range of sea birds. And there’s beaches to be enjoyed too!
Find out more about Portknockie on the village website >
The local shop is well stocked, there are two pubs as well as a great Chinese Takeaway and the excellent Fish and Chip shop is open Thursday-Sunday. Order ahead to avoid disappointment – but at least you don’t have to walk far to pick up your suppers!
The wider area
Portknockie is on the Moray Coast Trail, National Cycle Network Route 1 and North East 250.
A flat two-mile route East (or the more adventurous walk down to Jenny’s Well and down to the beach) will bring you to the lovely village of Cullen where you can enjoy some antique & collectable shopping and sample amazing ice cream. The historic golf course borders the stunning beach close to great cafés takeaways and restaurants.
Head two miles West and you’re in the picturesque village of Findochty (known locally as Finechty). This town has a lovely harbour and the Admiral is a great spot for a drink in the afternoon sunshine.
Buckie is the nearest town, with a number of supermarkets, cafés, takeaways and restaurants. At five miles, it’s a longer walk, but it’s a lovely part of the coast and worth exploring – even if you have to take the bus back!
Further afield, to the East, Portsoy, Banff and Macduff are steeped in history and each have their charms and facilities. Over to the West you can find the towns of Fochabers – with the excellent Christie’s Garden Centre and the Baxter’s visitors centre or you can keep going towards the bigger towns of Elgin and Nairn.
There are many woodland walks around the area including the Winding Walks, as well as many historic buildings and sites to explore like Findlater Castle.
And of course, to the southwest is Keith – a gateway to Speyside and scores of Whisky distilleries! For more information, visit the Malt Whisky Trail.
There are many challenging and enjoyable golf courses in the immediate and wider area. You can find the top 10 golf courses according to TripAdviser on their website.
The Moray coast is a hidden gem and well worth exploring. Why not make Sea Haven your base for your next adventure?
Transport
Bus
There is a regular bus service through Portknockie – on the Aberdeen-Elgin route 35.
Car
Portknockie is just off the A98, 60 miles from Aberdeen and from Inverness.
There are electric vehicle charging points in Cullen (2 miles away) and in Buckie (5 miles away)
Train
The nearest Train station is in Keith, 16 miles from Portknockie. This is on the main route between Aberdeen and Inverness.
