Spey Bay, WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre and Spey Viaduct Walk

Spey Bay is a small settlement on the Moray Firth Coast located on the east side of the mouth of the River Spey, which flows into the North Sea.

It's a lovely place to visit at all times of the year; the shingle beach, the mouth of the river and walks along the river give a variety of interesting vistas and habitats for many different species of wildlife - incredible for photography.

Also at the site is the WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre and a great walk to Spey Viaduct, a large Victorian railway bridge completed in 1886.

I visited Spey Bay at the end of February with my young family; read on to learn more about our adventure!

Spey Bay Car Park

There are ample parking spaces directly next to the WDC Centre, with around 20 spaces (including accessible parking). Picnic tables are available between the car park and the beach, and information boards about the wildlife and walks can be read.

Spey Bay Beach

The beach at Spey Bay is truly lovely. It's not known for its golden sands but rather for its tumbling stones - the sound is fantastic. Just be careful if walking here; it would be easy to fall over your ankle and hurt yourself as the rounded stones move as you walk - it wouldn't be suitable for those uneasy on their feet or very small children.

My girls loved looking for sea glass here and found a few little bits, along with some interesting-looking stones. Amazingly, just a few days after our visit, a WW2 bomb was discovered where we had walked.

This stony beach continues all the way to the mouth of the River Spey; this is a great place to spot dolphins and seals feasting on the salmon. We didn't encounter any on this visit.

 

We walked along the riverside, returning to the dolphin centre, and then decided to take the walk to Spey Viaduct.

Walk to Spey Viaduct

It took us about 20 minutes to walk to Spey Viaduct along a path about 1 mile long. This excellent route follows part of the river Spey which moved at high speed on our right before giving way to forests. The track is well-trodden and flat but can be muddy if there has been rainfall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eventually, we arrived at a sign showing a right turn to Garmouth; this is the path to take to the viaduct. The track here is very straight as it was part of the old railway line; you can see all the way through to the other side of the bridge and to infinity.

 

The bridge itself is fascinating and gives a wonderful insight into the fantastic engineers of the late 1800s. Please find out more about the Spey Viaduct in my dedicated article. We walked the length of the bridge, wary of cyclists coming in both directions, and then, at the far side, we took a path to an area under the bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We retraced our steps back over the bridge and followed the path back to the car park.

WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre

WDC stands for "Whale and Dolphin Conservation", and the visitor centre at Spey Bay is an excellent place to learn about bottlenose dolphins and whales in the Moray Firth/North Sea, just a stone's throw from the centre.

There is a small interactive exhibition area at the centre and guides available for questions. A talk showing bones and skulls from dolphins is available each weekend day at 2 pm, no booking is required. Free admission at the visitor centre.

 

 

 

Tugnet Ice House tour

Directly across from the visitor centre is Scotland's largest surviving icehouse, once used to store ice for packing salmon from the nearby Spey Fishery. Tugnet Ice House dates from 1830, and the dolphin centre offers tours for up to 10 people, which must be booked in advance. This is a brilliant way to learn more about Spey Bay's fishing heritage.

Many dolphin spotters use the elevated position of the ice house to set up scopes looking out to sea, eager for a glimpse of these amazing marine animals.

 

 

Visitor Centre Cafe

We didn't try the cafe on this visit, but the menu board was available outside with many lovely-sounding items. It seemed expensive ish, but a great selection was available, the food looked high quality, and the smell of nice coffee filled the air. Vegan options are also on the menu, including a hummus and roast pepper sandwich.

 

Gift Shop

A lovely gift shop is located within the main building and has a variety of great items, including:

• Dolphin and whale-themed items.

• Placemats made from recycled EVA plastics.

• Bath & body items.

• Toys and children's books.

How to get to Spey Bay

Here are some directions for Spey Bay.

From the A96:

1. When coming from the west and travelling on the A96, cross the River Spey road bridge between Mosstodloch and Fochabers.

2. On the first roundabout before Fochabers turn left down the B9104.

3. Stay on the B9104, passing through Bogmoor.

4. You will see a brown tourist sign with a blue anchor marked Spey Bay; keep going straight ahead.

5. The road curves round to the left, and you will see the dolphin centre.

From the A98:

1. From the east on the A98, turn right after The Mill House Hotel.

2. Continue along this road until you reach a crossroads. Continue straight ahead along Beaufighter Road.

3. Stay on Beaufighter Road, passing through the small village of Nether Dallachy.

4. Turn right onto the B9104 and continue to the end of this road to the Spey Bay car park.

From Portgordon / Buckie:

1. Leave Portgordon via Stewart Street, and follow this road for some distance.

2. You will reach the crossroads here; take a right along Beaufighter Road; the sign is marked "Coastal Trail West".

3. Follow step 3 above on "From the A98".

Nearest towns: Elgin, Portgordon, Fochabers.
OS grid ref: NJ325657.
What3words: ///bordering.third.aquatics
Google maps location.

FAQs on Spey Bay

Here are a few frequently asked questions on Spey Bay:

Is it possible to see dolphins at Spey Bay?

Yes, seeing bottlenose dolphins is possible, but you aren't guaranteed to see them if you visit. If you do see them count yourself very lucky!

Is Spey Bay a good place for wildlife watching?

Yes, Spey Bay is an excellent place for wildlife watching. In addition to bottlenose dolphins, often seen in the Moray Firth, the area is home to various bird species, including ospreys, red kites, and kingfishers.

Where is a good place to stay near Spey Bay?

The Mill House Hotel would be the perfect place to stay in the Spey Bay area. Located directly on the A98, it's the ideal base to visit attractions in the local area. The food is excellent too!

When is the Scottish Dolphin Centre open?

Thursday – Monday, 10:30 am to 4 pm (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays).

Are toilets available at the Scottish Dolphin Centre?

Yes, the toilets are accessed from the outside to the far side of the building.

Is Spey Bay accessible for disabled people?

It's reasonably good, the dolphin centre, gift shop, cafe, and toilets are all disabled-friendly, but there is no way to get to the beach from the car park via wheelchair. The entire beach is comprised of bare shingle. However, the raised grass area next to the ice house makes for a great viewpoint to look out to sea for dolphin spotting.

What else can I do near Spey Bay?

• Further east is the town of Portgordon; if you love wildlife, this is one of the best places to see seals in Scotland.

• A walk up the Bin of Cullen is a must while in east Moray.

• Bow Fiddle Rock, an amazing geological rock formation, can be seen in Portknockie to the east.

• Boyne Castle and Findlater Castle are fantastic ruins to explore even further to the east.

• Macduff Aquarium is the perfect place to learn more about the North Sea's aquatic life.

• Garmouth Golf Club is available to the west of the Spey, and Spey Bay Golf Club is a short distance to the east.

Spey Bay Videos

Here is a selection of videos from our visit to Spey Bay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key information on Spey Bay

• There is a spacious car park.

• Epic beach with beautiful walks.

• The dolphin conservation centre has a brilliant cafe.

• Spey Bay Golf Course (designed by the legendary Ben Sayers) is a short distance from the beach.

• A 20-minute walk south will take you to Spey Viaduct.

• It's possible to see seals, dolphins and many forms of bird life.

Conclusion

If you're in east Moray, then a trip to Spey Bay, the dolphin centre and a walk to Spey Viaduct makes for a fantastic day out.