A short visitor's guide to Portknockie, Moray: things to do, places to eat and drink, and what's on through the year.
Portknockie is a small clifftop fishing village on the Moray Firth, perched above a rocky shoreline a few miles east of Cullen and just along the coast from neighbouring Findochty. The Scottish Gaelic name, Port Chnocaidh, means "the hilly port", and the village still feels exactly that: rows of low cottages running along the brae, a tight harbour cut into the cliff and a long stretch of green clifftop walks above.
Most visitors come for the coast itself. The headline draw is Bow Fiddle Rock, a sea-worn natural arch shaped like the tip of a fiddle bow, easily reached on foot from the village and one of the most photographed sights on the Moray Coast. Beyond that, it is a quiet base for clifftop walking, harbour pottering and exploring the wider Moray Firth coast, with whisky country and the Cairngorms fringe within easy driving distance.
Portknockie's attractions are almost entirely about the coast, and the cliffs immediately east of the harbour are where most visitors spend their time.
The headline is Bow Fiddle Rock (AB56 4NN), a quartzite sea arch shaped like the tip of a fiddle bow and one of the most recognisable natural landmarks on the Moray Firth. It is reached on foot from the eastern edge of the village along a short clifftop path; at low tide the rock is framed against the sands and rock pools below, and there is a steady traffic of seabirds, including fulmars and the occasional gannet. A few minutes back along the path is the Bow Fiddle Rock Viewpoint, a small fenced spot with a clean line of sight to the arch for anyone who would rather not walk down onto the rocks. For a quieter half-hour, Three Creeks Shore at 20 Reidhaven Street is a tucked-away inlet on the western side of the village, popular with locals for paddling and rock-pooling.
Outside of the Bow Fiddle Rock walk, Portknockie's outdoor time is mostly about the coast path and the wider headland.
The Moray Coast Trail runs straight through the village, with easy clifftop walking west towards Cullen and east towards Findochty and Buckie; the section between Portknockie and Cullen is one of the most popular short walks on the Moray Firth, taking in sea stacks, hidden coves and panoramic views back along the bay. In the village itself, the War Memorial on Bridge Street sits in a small landscaped memorial park, a quiet spot for five minutes off the main brae. Down at sea level, the working harbour is worth a wander at any state of the tide, with creels stacked on the quay and a handful of small inshore boats still tying up.
Portknockie is a small village and the pub scene reflects that: one well-regarded local that does the job for a pint or a pub meal.
The Seafield Inn on Victoria Place is the village pub, a traditional bar a couple of minutes' walk from the harbour with a steady local following and a friendly welcome to walkers coming off the Moray Coast Trail. For a wider choice of bars, the larger fishing villages of Cullen and Findochty are both within a few minutes by car, and the harbour pubs of Buckie are a short drive east. If you are travelling with a dog, see also our dog-friendly holiday cottages in Portknockie.
Eating out in Portknockie itself is built around two takeaway favourites; for a wider sit-down choice, Cullen and Buckie are both within a short drive.
The pick of the village is Portknockie Fish & Chip Shop at 7 Union Street, a small chippy with a strong local following: it opens Thursday to Sunday only, with orders taken from 10am on opening days, and telephone orders are strongly recommended in season to avoid disappointment. Round the corner on Hill Street, China Dragon Chinese Takeaway at 9-11 Hill Street covers the Chinese-takeaway side of the village, useful for an easy supper back at the cottage. For a bistro or restaurant evening out, head a couple of miles west to Cullen for the harbour-front kitchens.