Water Sports

Take advantage of the beach on your doorstep with a range of water sports. From surfing to boogy boarding, paddle boarding to pier jumping, there is something for everyone.

The local surf school runs year round and provides equipment for hire as well as surfing lessons.

The beach is also popular with open water swimmers - for the bravest of folks, there is no wetsuit required.

Beside the beach car park is the last local fishery, Smiths - with some of the best smoked fish around.

GolF

 Courses

The North East of Scotland is home to some of the finest links courses in Scotland.

There are more than fifty classic courses to choose from, making Sandend the ideal base for your golfing holiday.

Cullen Links Golf Club is under four miles away and Duff House Royal Golf Club, designed by the legendary Dr Alister MacKenzie, is eleven miles. 

castle

Trails

The remnants of Findlater Castle, the 15th Century seat of the Ogilvies of Boyne still stands within walking distance of Sandend Village.  In the immediate vicinity are many other castles, with Delgatie Castle being the closest, followed by Fyvie Castle. The historic Duff House is located in Banff and Pictish remains can be seen at Burhghead Fort.

Aberdeenshire is known as Scotland's Castle Country and has over two hundred and sixty castles, stately homes and ruins.

Morayshire hosts many more fascinating castles, ruins and ancient buildings, many close to Sandend. 

Indoor activities

There are also many things to do indoors near Sandend, making it the ideal location - no matter the weather.

In Elgin, Moray Leisure Centre provides swimming and ice skating facilities as well as health and wellness services.

Also in Elgin is Pinz Bowling and soft play, making it a great activity for the whole family.

The Banff Spotty Bag Shop - famous worldwide for its uniquely spotted bags, is a discount store that sells just about everything under the sun and can be fun for a walk around. 

Sea life & dolphins

The enchanting Moray Firth dolphins have been featured on BBC Scotland. A pod is regularly spotted in and around Sandend Bay and it is always a "stop everything and watch" moment. 

Situated at the mouth of the River Spey, eighteen miles away, the WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre is free entry and a fascinating place to visit.  Alongside the WDC, Scotland's fastest flowing river roars into the sea - the location itself is dramatic enough to make the trip worthwhile. 

Seals, both Grey and Common can be seen here, as well as along the local coastline.

TRAILS & WAYS

There are exciting walks east, west and south of Sandend Holidays.

To the east a cliff top walk to Portsoy, used as a location for TV and film productions (most recently Netflix's "Peaky Blinders").

To the west another cliff top walk that passes through the stunning, secluded Sunnyside beach and on to Cullen. Here you can join the Moray Coast Trail.

To the south, follow quiet roads to the 13th century village of Fordyce. Further afield there are more walks that satisfy all abilities. 

You can:

Bag a Munro

Complete a "Way" in stages, or one go if you're brave

Enjoy a heritage walk around one of the coastal villages

Walk in beautiful parks

Attempt a wide range of forest tracks

Investigate the many beaches

Macduff Aquarium

The award winning Macduff Marine Aquarium features marine life from the Moray Firth.  It is a hands on interactive experience that is great fun for young and old, just twelve miles away.  

Sight seeing boat cruises and private charters, regularly depart from Macduff Harbour.

Cycling routes

Cycling is a very popular activity in Aberdeenshire and Morayshire. 

The location allows for a range of riding, from leisurely family daunders to adrenalin fuelled downhill MTB routes.

The area is also popular for road rides and long distance cycle touring.

The malt whisky trail

Glenglassaugh Distillery is within walking distance of Sandend Holidays and can be accessed from the bay. 

Sandend is adjacent to both the Highland and Speyside Whisky regions, with many of the distilleries situated within a 30 mile radius of Sandend.

RSPB Nature 

Reserves

The RSPB has two reserves in the immediate area.

Troup Head is home to scotland’s largest mainland Gannet colony and at Loch Spynie you can watch Grey Heron, Mute Swan and Little Grebe in their natural habitat.

Both reserves are only twenty seven miles away.

North East 250

Right on Sandend’s doorstep is a spectacular road trip taking you along the Moray Coast, through Speyside and into the Cairngorm National Park, before passing through the quaint Royal Deeside and into the heart of the Granite City - Aberdeen.

The route then follows the spectacular North Sea coastline that is scattered with historic fishing villages, back to us at Sandend.

North Coast 500

Just sixty four miles from Sandend is Inverness - the start and finish of a fantastic 500 mile route through Scotland’s  most stunning scenery.

The route winds west to Applecross, then north towards Torridon and Ullapool.  

The route covers the most northerly mainland coastal points in Scotland, Caithness and John O’Groats before heading south through Dingwall and returning to Inverness.