A short visitor's guide to Buckie, Moray: things to do, places to eat and drink, and what's on through the year.
Buckie is a fishing town on the Moray Firth coast of northern Scotland, the third largest settlement in Moray after Elgin and Forres. Historically part of Banffshire before local government reorganisation in 1975, the town sits roughly equidistant between Banff to the east and Elgin to the west, with both about 17 miles away, and Keith 12 miles south.
The town's character is shaped by its working harbour and its fishing heritage. The Buckie and District Fishing Heritage Centre on Cluny Place tells the story of the local industry through exhibits, photographs and a full-size replica fishing vessel. Beyond the Heritage Centre, the coast path eastward towards Findochty offers clifftop walking with sea views, and the town has a compact High Street with independent shops, cafes and pubs.
Nearby Findochty is 4 miles east along the coast with 6 properties.
Buckie's heritage is its main draw, and the town's one standout attraction reflects that history directly.
Buckie and District Fishing Heritage Centre at 10 Cluny Place is a dedicated museum and archive of the town's fishing industry, widely rated as one of the most informative and personal local museums on this part of the Scottish coast. The centre includes a full-size replica fishing boat, oral histories, photographs and artefacts tracing the generations of fishing families that made Buckie what it is. The Buckie Viewpoint on Bank Street offers a harbour-level view of the working port and is the best vantage point for watching vessels come and go.
Buckie's outdoor options are modest in town but the surrounding coast more than compensates. Linzee Gordon Park on High Street is a small, well-kept town park, useful for a quick stop. The more rewarding option is the clifftop coast path heading east towards Portgordon and Findochty, where the views across the Moray Firth are at their best on a clear day. Dog-friendly holiday cottages in Buckie number 7 in total for those travelling with dogs.
For wet-weather afternoons, Buckie has two main indoor facilities. Buckie Swimming Pool on South Pringle Street is a public leisure pool open to visitors; Buckie Library at 7 Cluny Place is part of the Moray Libraries network and sits conveniently next to the Fishing Heritage Centre.
Buckie's pub scene clusters around Cluny Square and Church Street, with a good mix of local bars and a small distillery worth a visit.
Pub In The Square at 7 Cluny Square is the most central option, with the waterfront character of a traditional Moray fishing town pub. Craigenroan Bar on Great Eastern Road is the highest-rated local (4.6 stars), a quieter alternative a short walk from the harbour. The Star Inn at Bridge End is the traditional coaching-inn option. For something more distinctive, Inchgower Distillery at the edge of town is one of only a handful of working distilleries on the Moray coast and offers an insight into the region's whisky-making past.
Buckie's eating-out offer is honest and unpretentious, with fish and chips, Chinese and Indian takeaways forming the backbone of the town's evening trade.
The most distinctive option is Drifters Fish & Chips on St Paul Street, a well-reviewed chippie with a loyal following. Akash Tandoori on West Church Street is the most popular Indian restaurant in town. Magic Kitchen on West Church Street is the main Chinese restaurant. For something more casual, The Heilan Coo on March Road is a family-run catering trailer delivering what its 4.8-star reviews describe as genuinely good burgers and local food.
Buckie's cafe scene is anchored by a few well-established local independents. Emma's at 31 East Church Street is the most popular coffee shop in town, with a 4.5-star average from 157 reviews. Home Bakery on Well Road is a traditional Scottish bakery with a loyal following for its morning rolls and baked goods. Sandisons Cafe Bar on East Church Street is the mid-town option for a sit-down coffee and lunch. For something sweet, the Ice Cream Cabin at Cluny Square and Simpsons Buckie on March Road East are both local ice cream producers.
Buckie sits just off the A98 primary road, which runs east-west between Fraserburgh and Fochabers. From Fochabers the A96 continues to Inverness and Aberdeen, making Buckie accessible from both cities by car.
By train, the nearest railway station is Keith, about 12 miles south, on the Aberdeen to Inverness line. A bus connection from Buckie to Keith station was withdrawn in 2013 but resumed in 2022 following local pressure. Bus services from Buckie connect to Aberdeen, Macduff and Elgin.