Nairnshire & Moray
As you head east from Inverness the countryside becomes flatter and gentler but has a combination of superb beaches and historical sites. By the coast, it's also one of the driest parts of the UK and is often dry when elsewhere in the Highlands it's wet.
All images are copyright David Marsh
The mightiest artillery fortification in the UK built to pacify the Highlands after the Jacobite Uprising of 1745. It's still used a military establishment to this day although much of the site can be visited by the public.
Cawdor Castle
Linked by Shakespeare to Macbeth, this fairytale-like castle also boasts fabulous gardens. It's open to the public from May to the beginning of October with admission for adults £10, children £6.50.
A popular golfing and seaside resort with a yacht-filled harbour. To the south of the harbour is the area of Fishertown filled with many tiny cottages. Nairn has 2 beaches – the best being the one which stretches east from the harbour.
Randolph's Leap is a beautiful gorge where the River Findhorn passes through narrow rocks. It can be reached by a 2.5 mile walk from Logie Steading which has a children's play area, shops, including an excellent second-hand bookshop, and a highly recommended cafe. (The Olive Tree Tearoom) which serves hot food until 3pm. Much of the Randolph's Leap walk is under trees so is quite feasible on a day of light rain.
Not only is Spey Bay an excellent place to spot whales and Moray Firth's famous Bottlenosed Dolphins, there is also this excellent visitor centre which children will love. Opening in 2014 is a new “Dry Dive” audio-visual experience in the old Icehouse. Open 7 days a week April to October. Free admission.
This small village boasts a spectacular sea arch known as Bow Fiddle Rock.
Another great beach. If you walk towards the mouth of the River Findhorn you're almost certain to see Grey and Common Seals, sometimes very close-up. The village is also home to the Findhorn Foundation, a pioneering eco-village and spiritual centre founded in 1962 which is also well worth a visit. The Blue Angel is a cafe in the Findhorn Foundation with excellent and inexpensive snacks and beverages - many vegetarian. The Phoenix is also community-owned and sells high quality organic food and crafts.
Another pleasant seaside village with a shoreline fringed with colourful beach huts. There's some great walks to the east along the cliffs to deserted coves.
Home to an RAF base with Tornado aircraft, Lossiemouth has 2 huge sandy beaches to the west and east.
This village in Banffshire possesses an atmospheric 17th Century harbour. Portsoy was also famous for its green Portsoy marble, some of which is in Louis XIV's Palace of Versailles. The stone is still worked locally and can be bought in the Marble shop in a warehouse overlooking the harbour. It also hosts the impressive Scottish Traditional Boat Festival every weekend in June.