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EuropeUnited KingdomScotland

Burghead

Scotland, United Kingdom · Europe

About Burghead

Burghead sits on the route: 15 minutes from Kinloss, 41km from Dunrobin Castle.

Burghead is a town located in Scotland, United Kingdom. With a population of 1,840, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Burghead sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Burghead to your route.

About Burghead

Burghead (Scots: Burgheid or The Broch, Scottish Gaelic: Am Broch) is a small town in Moray, Scotland, about 8 miles (13 km) north-west of Elgin. The town is mainly built on a peninsula that projects north-westward into the Moray Firth, surrounding it by water on three sides. People from Burghead are called

Read more Brochers. The present town was built between 1805 and 1809, destroying in the process more than half of the site of an important Pictish fort. General Roy's map shows the defences as they existed in the 18th century although he wrongly attributed them to the Romans. The fort was probably a major Pictish centre and was where carved slabs depicting bulls, known as the Burghead Bulls, were found. A chambered well of some considerable antiquity was discovered in 1809 and walls and a roof were later added to help preserve it. Each year on 11 January a fire festival known as the Burning of the Clavie takes place; it is thought that the festival dates back to the 17th century, although it could easily predate this by several centuries. Burghead is often known by locals as The Broch, a nickname also applied to Fraserburgh in nearby Aberdeenshire. A recent dig just beyond the boundary of Burghead at Clarkly Hill has uncovered Iron Age circular stone houses and Pictish building foundations, as well as silver and bronze Roman coins and a gold finger ring possibly from the Baltic region. Significant evidence of large scale Iron smelting has also been found, providing evidence that iron was probably being traded from this site. The National Museum of Scotland has carried out significant exploration which leads it to believe this is a significant site of interest.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Burghead

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Burghead?

Burghead offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Burghead?

Plan your road trip to Burghead with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Burghead as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Burghead located?

Burghead is located in Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 57.7011 latitude, -3.4899 longitude.

What is the population of Burghead?

Burghead has a population of approximately 1,840 people, making it a town in United Kingdom.

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Quick Information

Population
1,840
Continent
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Region
Scotland
Timezone
Europe/London
Coordinates
57.7011, -3.4899

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United Kingdom

Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
999
Non-emergency police
101
Driving side
left

112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.

Full driving guide for United Kingdom

Tags

EuropeUnited KingdomScotlandTown

Worth the detour from Burghead

7 notable places within an hour's drive.

landmark

Glenmorangie Distillery

A famed Highland single malt distillery on the Dornoch Firth near Tain, offering tours and tastings on the NC500.

36 km · about 40 min drive

photogenic

Bow Fiddle Rock

Sea arch shaped like the tip of a fiddle bow, a short walk from the village of Portknockie on the Moray coast. At dawn the quartzite arch glows pink and doubles in the still water; dolphins pass close inshore.

38 km · about 45 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Chanonry Point

One of the best places in Europe to spot bottlenose dolphins from the shore, a spit on the Black Isle near Inverness.

39 km · about 45 min drive

castle

Dunrobin Castle

A fairytale French-château-style castle with formal gardens and falconry displays on the NC500's east coast.

41 km · about 50 min drive

ancient ruins

Clava Cairns

A serene cluster of 4,000-year-old burial cairns and standing stones near Inverness, beloved by Outlander fans.

43 km · about 50 min drive

landmark

Culloden Battlefield

The moor where the 1746 Jacobite rising was crushed, now a moving memorial and visitor centre near Inverness.

44 km · about 50 min drive

historic highway

The Lecht (A939 Old Military Road)

Notorious high crossing of the eastern Cairngorms on the 18th-century military road between Cockbridge and Tomintoul, climbing to 637m with roller-coaster gradients: often the first UK road closed by snow.

58 km · about 65 min drive

Driving roads near Burghead

  • 39 kmChanonry PointOne of the best places in Europe to spot bottlenose dolphins from the shore, a spit on the Black Isle near Inverness.
  • 58 kmThe Lecht (A939 Old Military Road)Notorious high crossing of the eastern Cairngorms on the 18th-century military road between Cockbridge and Tomintoul, climbing to 637m with roller-coaster gradients: often the first UK road closed by snow.
  • 66 kmCairngorm Mountain FunicularA funicular railway climbing high into the Cairngorms near Aviemore for panoramic alpine views and winter snowsports.
  • 74 kmWhaligoe Steps365 hand-built flagstone steps zigzagging down a 76m cliff to a hidden natural harbour where herring boats once landed. Unsigned from the A99 south of Wick: most NC500 traffic drives straight past.

Driving in United Kingdom

Drives on
the left
Petrol
~€1.73/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

May to September

Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Burghead.

Hopeman

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

3 km awayPop. 1,710

Kinloss

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

9 km awayPop. 1,250

Elgin

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

12 km awayPop. 25,040

Lossiemouth

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

12 km awayPop. 6,840

Forres

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

13 km awayPop. 9,900

Lhanbryde

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

18 km awayPop. 1,970

Fochabers

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

25 km awayPop. 1,690

Rothes

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

26 km awayPop. 1,230

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence