North Alves Holiday Park

North Alves Holiday Park is a small, quiet campsite on a former farm north of Elgin, with open-field camping for tents and campervans. Dogs are welcome, and the practical facilities include a communal toilet and shower block. A shared fire pit offers a place to gather in the evening, keeping the emphasis on straightforward camping in a rural setting. The camping season runs from 1 April to 31 October, and enquiries can be made through an online form.

Roseisle’s coastal pinewoods and sandy beach are around a mile from the park, making them a useful focus for days outdoors. The woodland has waymarked walks, with opportunities to look for red squirrels and crested tits among the trees, while concrete wartime defences remain along the shore. For a defined route, the two-kilometre Ice House Trail passes through the forest towards the Bessie Burn and an old ice house once used to store salmon. Its uneven, sometimes muddy paths include exposed roots and some fairly steep sections, so it is more than a level beach stroll.

Whisky is another reason to explore the area, with Glenburgie the closest distillery to the campsite. For a contrasting outing, Elgin Cathedral brings Moray’s medieval history into focus: its surviving 13th-century west front and octagonal chapter house are notable features, with carved beasts and faces among the stonework.