Burghead

Burghead is a peaceful coastal village on the Shores of the Moray Firth, surrounded by distant hills and mountains. It is the site of the earliest settlement in the Moray Firth. Maps prepared by the Romans in A.D.86, show a settlement on the promontory where Burghead is now situated. The history of Burghead goes back over one thousand years, with the remains of what is reputed to be the largest Iron Age Fort in Great Britain. There is a Roman type bath, which was discovered in the last century, known as the 'Burghead Well' the origins of the well still remains a mystery. There is also an old cemetery with stone going back to the medieval times. Burghead was homeland of one of the tribes of the Picts long before the Scots, Vikings or English discovered Burghead. The Picts were accomplished workers in metal and carvers in stone. A number of incised Picts Stones bearing the carved symbol of a bull have been found in the locality. The layout of Burghead as seen today was part of the 'Planned Village' scheme, which was created in Scotland between 1745 and 1845. The old fishing village of Burghead was demolished at the beginning of the 19th century. This was in order to build the new Burghead, with wide streets laid out in a neat grid pattern.

Burghead Harbour

Burghead Harbour, built in its present form in 1818, when the major part of the Old Fort was removed, it soon became a very busy harbour by 1840 over 43 boats were based there, there was even a regular service to London. The harbour was once described as one of the safest, deepest and complete harbours in the North of Scotland. In 1920 there were over a thousand boats gathering in the Moray Firth for the herring season. In 1928 there were 11 motor boats and 23 steam drifters in the harbour, trains originally came to the harbour to load and unload goods. The Old Warehouse used to be used for storing grain, and there was an area for gutting fish. Today the harbour is peaceful with only a few fishing boats, as today boats are much bigger and need larger harbours. However it is still a working harbour, ships can be seen unloading grain for the malting, loading wood from the forests, or stone from the local quarries. Various other boats call into the harbour including the occasional yacht as well as a few local pleasure craft.

Burning of the Clavie

The ancient ceremony of the Burning of the Clavie takes place in Burghead on January 11th each year. It is the traditional Burghead New Year. The significance of the 11th January dates back to the 1750's, when the Julian calendar was reformed in Britain, the new Georgian calendar was introduced. People rioted, demanding back their 11 days, but in Burghead they decided to celebrate the New Year twice, on the 1st January and the 11 of January. This then began the Burning of the Clavie. The Clavie is a tar barrel filled with wood and tar (today iron-hooped whisky barrels daubed with creosote are used), it is set alight, the burning barrel is carried around the streets of Burghead by the elected Clavie King and his crew, followed by a large cheering crowd, occasionally stopping at the houses of former eminent citizens to present a smouldering faggot of the Clavie in the doorway to bring the household good luck for the year ahead. The burning barrel is then taken to the stone altar of an old fort on the ancient Doorie Hill. The Clavie is then set down there and more fuel is added as the crowds cheer setting the whole hill alight. The crowds stay until the Clavie falls down, before returning to open houses which offers free entertainment, food, hospitality and friendship.

Burghead Today

Today Burghead is one of the driest area's in Great Britain, the coastal area of the Moray Firth has fewer thunderstorms than anywhere else in the British Isles. There are a variety of sports in and around Burghead which includes, bowling, cycling, climbing on the rocks between Burghead and Cummingston and Golf, there are over seven Golf courses within 10 miles of Burghead and Orienteering, surfing, scuba diving, swimming and walking. Burghead Bay is rich in wildlife, and is one of the most rewarding places in the British Isles for winter bird watching. The bay is a favourite winter ground for many seabirds, and a summer fishing ground for the Osprey. The coast is also popular with a range of sea-mammals, of whales, dolphins, purpoises and seals. The vantage points of Burghead Headland offers an exceptional view of the famous dolphins, showing spectacular leaps and somersaults. There are about 130 of them, they are larger than any other in the world, they are 3m (10ft) in length and 300 kilos in weight. In Burghead on a clear day the mountains of Caithness and Sutherland can clearly be seen and from the highest point in the town eight counties can be seen.