Location
Portessie is right on the sunny Moray Firth coast, just a mile from the bustling port of Buckie, where you'll find supermarkets, banks and the freshest fish imaginable.
You can find lots more information by following the links below - all open in a new window.
GOOGLE Location map and directions
This area has an amazing diversity of attractive coastal scenery, from shell-sand beaches to tiny fishing villages and towering cliffs. On clear days there are panoramic views across the Moray Firth to the mountains of Sutherland.
The fertile hinterland is full of historical interest, with Pictish relics, castles galore and the renowned malt whisky distilleries of the majestic Spey valley. It's also a centre of high-quality food production, with the world-famous Baxters visitor centre at Fochabers and Walkers shortbread at Aberlour.
Local traditions are kept alive at festivals which are a magnet for both natives and visitors:
The Spirit of Speyside festival in early May attracts whisky enthusiasts from all over the world.
In June the Keith Festival is a mecca for lovers of traditional song and music.
Boat lovers converge on Portsoy in late June for the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.
In early August Fochabers is home to Speyfest, another treat for traditional music fans.
.... and throughout the summer months almost every town or village has its own Highland Games or Agricultural Show.
You can get more information here about places to visit and local events around Speyside or download a guide to this secret corner of Scotland from VisitScotland. (Large PDF file!).
Wildlife and birds
If you're interested in wildlife, the first place to head for is the Moray Firth Wildlife Centre a few miles along the coast at the Spey Bay nature reserve.
The Gemini Explorer, based at Buckie harbour, is a brilliant way to go dolphin-watching along the coast. Back on dry land, the award-winning Peregrine Wild Watch centre near Huntly is well worth a visit, as much for the red squirrels as for the peregrines!
The spectacular cliffs of Troup Head are home to the only mainland gannet colony in Scotland. A summer visit to this seabird city, with large populations of kittiwakes, guillemots and puffins, is an unforgettable experience. If vertiginous cliffs are too daunting, you can watch the Troup Head gannets via the live TV feed at the Macduff Marine Aquarium, another outstanding local attraction.
Walking
Many of the nature reserves mentioned above are great places for walking and observing wildlife. An enduring favourite is the scenic coastal path from immediately outside the cottage, past the old harbours of Findochty and Portknockie towards Cullen. The more adventurous will be rewarded by the dramatic ruins of Findlater Castle, lying beyond Cullen on the cliff-top footpath to Sandend and Portsoy, taking advantage of the regular bus service to return to Portessie.
An excellent online guide to walks and cycle routes in Moray is the ideal place to find outdoor activities to suit the whole family.
The long-distance Speyside way links the Moray coast with the foothills of the Cairngorms and can be walked in short stages, thanks to excellent public transport along the route.
Guests to the cottage will find it well equipped with maps and guides for a wide choice of walks in the area.
Whisky
Whether you're a seasoned whisky buff or just looking to absorb the local atmosphere, you'll find ample opportunity here. The nearest distillery open to visitors is just along the coast at Glenglassaugh, or you can follow the Malt Whisky Trail taking in seven working distilleries set in magnificent Speyside, and uncover the secrets of "uisghe beatha".
Why not plan a visit to coincide with the Spirit of Speyside Festival, or the Autumn Whisky Festival in Dufftown?
Golf
The nearest golf course is within walking distance at Strathlene
where there is also a driving range.
With all these courses in the vicinity, you could play a round somewhere different every day!:
Genealogy
Excellent local research facilities make this a very convenient base for tracing your roots in Banffshire or Moray, with knowledgeable advice available from local experts.
For professional research services, you need go no further than Gene Genie Scotland, a specialist in family history in North-East Scotland.
The library in Buckie, just a mile away, has census records for Banffshire parishes, as well as indexes to the Old Parish Registers.
If your ancestors were involved in the fishing industry, you'll find the Buckie Fishing Heritage Centre a wealth of information and visits to the newly restored Portsoy Salmon Bothy and the Fochabers Local Heritage Centre are also highly recommended.
Searches of statutory registers can be carried out by appointment with Registrars in Banff and Elgin, both about 30 minutes by car from Portessie.
The Moray Local Heritage Service in Elgin maintains extensive records for the area and has an invaluable online database.
Genealogical records for the whole of north-east Scotland are held by the Aberdeen & North East Scotland Family History Society, which has an outstanding research centre in Aberdeen, including a substantial library.