This is a sheltered, sunny spot to aim for in Culbin, where visitors can watch seals swim in the estuary or often see osprey fishing to feed young in late spring.
It all looks very tranquil and permanent, but it is far from it. The river Findhorn has regularly changed its course through the centuries: carbon-dating of the peat in the west of Culbin reveals that it is likely to have first breached the Old Bar as long as 3,300 years ago.
Findhorn village
On the other side of the rivermouth, Findhorn can look as though it is floating out to sea. The river changed its course to its present channel during the great sandstorm of 1694, which engulfed Culbin. Findhorn villagers adapted to survive, moving to their current rivermouth home from an earlier village (now covered by the waters of the Moray Firth). The people of Culbin have moved with the landscape and, as our climate changes, we will need to adapt in the future too.
See more about Culbin’s coastal landscape.
A source of water and food
The Findhorn has been a source of water and food for thousands of years. Its waters rumble stones down towards the sea and also wash natural nutrients downstream, encouraging fish and birds to feed at the rivermouth. This forms an extensive intertidal mudflat area where the river waters meet the waves of the Moray Firth.
Wherever the river has run through Culbin in the past it has left the soil altered below, with areas of clay from the river bed and richer soil where vegetation has rotted away. This affects whatever grows there even today.
At Findhorn Bay, a seat is located at the point where the bay narrows. Findhorn village is only a few hundred metres away.
See how Culbin has changed through time.
See the Culbin map (PDF 3.5Mb).
Back to 12 places to see at Culbin.
