Burghead

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=February 2013}} {{Infobox UK place | official_name = Burghead | scots_name = Burgheid / The Broch | gaelic_name = Am Broch | country = Scotland | map_type = Scotland | static_image_name = Burghead Seafront - geograph.org.uk - 246847.jpg | static_image_caption = Burghead seafront | population = {{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Burghead}} | population_ref = ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref>| os_grid_reference = NJ116688 | edinburgh_distance = 168 miles (262 km) | london_distance = 555 miles (894 km) | language = [[English language|English]] | language1 = [[Scots language|Scots]] ([[Doric dialect (Scotland)|Doric]]) | coordinates = {{coord|57.700|-3.485|display=inline,title}} | post_town = ELGIN | postcode_area = IV | postcode_district = IV30 | dial_code = 01343 | constituency_westminster = [[Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey (UK Parliament constituency)|Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey]] | civil_parish = Duffus | unitary_scotland = [[Moray]] | lieutenancy_scotland = Moray | constituency_scottish_parliament = [[Moray (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Moray]] | website = [http://www.burghead.com burghead.com] }}

'''Burghead''' ({{langx|sco|Burgheid}}<ref>[http://www.scotslanguage.com/books/view/1/823/Names%20in%20Scots%20-%20Places%20in%20Scotland Scots Language Centre: Scottish Place Names in Scots]</ref> or ''The Broch'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.scots-online.org/dictionary/read.asp?letter=T&CurPage=17 |title=The Online Scots Dictionary |access-date=5 September 2012 |archive-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002030308/http://www.scots-online.org/dictionary/read.asp?letter=T&CurPage=17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{langx|gd|Am Broch}}) is a small town in [[Moray]], [[Scotland]], about {{convert|8|mi}} north-west of [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]]. The town is mainly built on a [[peninsula]] that projects north-westward into the [[Moray Firth]], surrounding it by water on three sides. People from Burghead are called Brochers.<ref>''Hidden Lives'': 1/6 Burghead, BBC Scotland, 27 November 2019</ref>

The present town was built between 1805 and 1809, destroying in the process more than half of the site of an [[Burghead Fort|important Pictish fort]]. [[William Roy|General Roy]]'s map shows the defences as they existed in the 18th century although he wrongly attributed them to the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]]. The fort was probably a major Pictish centre and was where carved slabs depicting bulls, known as the [[Burghead Bulls]], were found. A chambered well of some considerable antiquity was discovered in 1809 and walls and a roof were later added to help preserve it. Each year on 11 January a fire festival known as the [[Burning of the Clavie]] takes place; it is thought that the festival dates back to the 17th century, although it could easily predate this by several centuries. Burghead is often known by locals as The Broch, a nickname also applied to [[Fraserburgh]] in nearby [[Aberdeenshire]].

A recent dig just beyond the boundary of Burghead at Clarkly Hill has uncovered Iron Age circular stone houses and Pictish building foundations, as well as silver and bronze Roman coins and a gold finger ring possibly from the Baltic region. Significant evidence of large scale Iron smelting has also been found, providing evidence that iron was probably being traded from this site. The [[National Museum of Scotland]] has carried out significant exploration which leads it to believe this is a significant site of interest.<ref name="n228">{{cite web | last=Hunter | first=Fraser | title=Shaking off the mud: Leaving Clarkly Hill | publisher =National Museum of Scotland | date=3 October 2013 | url=https://blog.nms.ac.uk/2013/10/03/shaking-off-the-mud-leaving-clarkly-hill/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024154858/https://blog.nms.ac.uk/2013/10/03/shaking-off-the-mud-leaving-clarkly-hill/ | archive-date=24 October 2021 | url-status=dead | access-date=3 September 2025}}</ref>

===Pictish fort=== {{main article|Burghead Fort}} This [[vitrified fort]] lies on top of a headland which commands extensive views of the [[Moray Firth]]. Originally believed to be [[Ptolemy]]'s Castra Alata, later 'Ptoroton' and the 'Torffness' of the [[Orkneyinga Saga]], it is now known to be of [[Pictish]] origin and is thought to be the oldest Pictish fort. It encloses 3 [[hectares]] and is three times as large as any other fort of the same period in Scotland. It was defended on the landward side by three banks and ditches which were destroyed during the creation of the harbour and modern village; their age is therefore uncertain.<ref>''The Iron Age in Northern Britain: Celts and Romans, Natives and Invaders'' ([[Dennis William Harding]]), Google book search [https://books.google.com/books?id=ndL58grX-qQC&dq=burghead&pg=PA237]</ref> Six striking carved slabs known as the [[Burghead Bulls]] were discovered during [[excavations]]. Dating to the 7th century AD, four of the originals are held locally in Burghead Visitor Centre and Elgin Museum and one each in the [[Royal Museum]], [[Edinburgh]], and the [[British Museum]], [[London]].<ref>[https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1861-1024-1 British Museum Collection]</ref> Much of the fort was destroyed during the building of the village from 1805 to 1809. The Doorie Hill (see below), which marked the junction of the citadel and the bailey, is the only remaining piece of the southern ramparts. Lengths of the eastern and northern ramparts are also still visible.<ref name=Sellar>Sellar, W.D.H. (editor) (1993). ''Moray: Province and People''. London. Robert Hale. Pages 142-4</ref><ref name =AMS>''Burghead Well''. (1968) Ancient Monuments of Scotland. Crown copyright leaflet.</ref><ref name =GRC>''Burghead''. (c. 1990) Grampian Regional Council leaflet.</ref>

[[File:Burghead well approach.jpg|thumb|240px|A view of Burghead chambered well from the approach (''click to enlarge'')]]

===Chambered well=== The Burghead Well, which lies within the perimeter of the [[promontory fort]], was discovered in 1809. It consists of a flight of stone steps leading down to a chamber containing a tank fed by springs. There is a [[frieze]] in the upper walls, a pedestal in the southeast corner and a sunken basin in the northwest corner. The chamber is {{convert|11|ft|m}} high, and {{convert|11|ft|m}} across with a {{convert|4|ft|m|adj=on}} wide ledge around the edge, and the tank is {{convert|4|ft|m}} deep. The discovery was made during [[excavations]] for a possible municipal water supply after an elderly fisherman recalled a tradition of a well in the vicinity. Various additions such as re-cutting the steps and deepening the tank were undertaken, but the flow of water proved to be insufficient for the proposed new function. At the time of discovery it was assumed that both the fort and well were of Roman antiquity and it was described as a 'Roman bath'. Later in the 19th century it was suggested that it was an early [[Christianity|Christian]] [[baptistery]] possibly associated with the cult of St Aethan, but its origins remain obscure to this day. It is almost certainly of [[Dark Age]] provenance and clearly had some ceremonial significance.<ref name=Sellar/><ref name =AMS/><ref>[https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/burghead-well Historic Environment Scotland – Burghead well]. Retrieved 13 March 2019</ref> It is possible that its main purpose was as a water supply for the fort and may suggest a [[Pict]]ish interest in [[kelpie|water spirits]].<ref name =GRC/> The well is a [[scheduled monument]].<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90044|desc=Burghead Well|access-date=13 March 2019}}</ref>

===Burning of the Clavie=== A fire festival called the '''Burning of the Clavie''' is held on 11 January each year, except when the 11th is a Sunday, in which case it takes place on the 10th. The event starts when the Clavie is lit on Granary Street at 18:00 and normally ends by 19:30.

In 1599, the [[Privy Council of Scotland]] made [[Calendar (New Style) Act 1750#Scotland|an order which provided]] that the first day of the year would be 1 January with effect from 1 January 1600,<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4qUnAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA63 |title =The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland |volume =VI |page=63 | editor = David Masson |year= 1884}}</ref> while retaining the [[Julian calendar]]. With the [[Calendar (New Style) Act 1750]], Great Britain, including Scotland, adopted the [[Gregorian calendar]] and elided 11 days from the 1752 calendar. Thus the day that would have been New Year's Day in the old calendar now fell on 12 January of the new calendar. The Burning of the Clavie continues to be celebrated on "old" New Year's Eve{{mdash}}that is, in the new calendar, on 11 January.

The practice has survived clerical condemnation. On 20 January 1689, the young men of the village were rebuked by the church courts for "having made a burning clavie, paying it superstitious worship, and blessing the boats after the old heathen custom".<ref>Sellar, W.D.H. (1993). Ibid. The quotation marks are his, but no specific citation is provided.</ref>

The Clavie is a barrel cut down to {{Convert|17|inch|cm}}, which is filled with tar and bits of wood. It is nailed onto a pole which is {{convert|4|ft|6|in|m}} long with a specially forged nail. It has to be specially made to leave a space for the carrier's head to fit between the staves (6 in all) and allowing him to rest it partly on his shoulders while he carries it. A group of about 15 men known as the Clavie crew, traditionally fishermen and headed by the Clavie king, take turns to carry the burning Clavie on a set route clockwise round the streets of the old part of the town. The Clavie crew stop to present bits of smouldering embers to certain households and the three [[public house]]s in the village to bring them good luck for the following year. There are also two set points where they stop to refuel. At the end of the route the Clavie is put onto a stone altar (which was not constructed until the 19th century) upon Doorie Hill,<ref name=Sellar/> and more fuel is added, often setting the whole side of the hill alight in the process. The barrel eventually collapses and the blazing embers are scattered all over the hilltop before they are collected and given out for good luck,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.new-year.co.uk/clavie.html |title=Happy New Year |access-date=13 September 2007 |archive-date=19 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519072914/http://www.new-year.co.uk/clavie.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> although it is said that in the past the embers were kept as charms against [[witchcraft]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.new-year.co.uk/clavie.html |title=Notes and Queries (1860), Google book search |access-date=13 September 2007 |archive-date=19 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519072914/http://www.new-year.co.uk/clavie.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and to kindle the New Year's fire on their cottage hearth.<ref>{{EB1911|inline=1 |wstitle=Clavie, Burning the|volume=6|page=469}}</ref> It used to be customary to carry the Clavie round every boat and vessel in the harbour, but this part of the ceremony was later discontinued, presumably because it became impossible as the harbour became busier.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

<gallery> Image:BurningOfTheClavie1(AnneBurgess)Jan1984.jpg|The Burning of the Clavie celebrates New Year's Eve, old style, which falls on 11 January (unless 11 January is a Sunday, in which case the celebration is held on 10 January). The Clavie is a half-cask, mounted securely on a pole, and filled with staves of wood and inflammable liquid. Image:BurningOfTheClavie2(AnneBurgess)Jan1984.jpg|The burning Clavie is carried through the streets of the town by the members of the Clavie Crew, who must be natives of the town to qualify. It is followed by a procession of hundreds of onlookers. On the route through the town, the Clavie Crew hands pieces of the Clavie – smouldering pieces of wood – to householders to ensure good luck for the ensuing year. Image:BurningOfTheClavie3(AnneBurgess)Jan1984.jpg|Finally the Clavie is carried to the top of the Doorie Hill and the pole is placed in a socket on top of the hill. </gallery>

===Ship building=== Alexander Stephen founded his company Alexander Stephen and Sons and began shipbuilding at Burghead on the Moray Firth in 1750.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} For Reference A Shipbuilding History 1750-1932 Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd. A Record of the Business founded about 1750, by Alexander Stephen at Burghead, and subsequently carried on at Aberdeen, Arbroath, Dundee, and Glasgow.

==Education== [[File:Burghead sign.jpg|thumb|250px|Welcome sign (''click to enlarge'')]]

===Primary and secondary schools=== * For primary education, there is just Burghead Primary School, a non-denominational [[Education in Scotland#School years|primary]] [[state school]] in Grant Street in the centre of the town. The school educates in a [[nursery school]] and years 1–7. There is a school roll of 128.<ref>[http://www.moray.gov.uk/downloads/file43811.pdf School Census]</ref> Students are grouped into three houses; Clavie, St Aethans and Torfness. * For secondary education, free transport is provided to two schools in nearby towns. Students may choose to attend either Lossiemouth High School<ref>[http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_schools/page_743.html Lossiemouth High School contact details]</ref> or [[Elgin Academy, Scotland|Elgin Academy]].<ref>[http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_schools/page_747.html Elgin Academy contact details]</ref>

===Further education=== [[Moray College]] is located approximately {{Convert|9|miles|km}} away in [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]].

==Notable people==

*Rev Prof [[William John Cameron]] minister of Burghead Free Church from 1932 to 1950

==Politics==

===UK and Scottish parliaments=== * Burghead is part of the [[Moray (UK Parliament constituency)|Moray constituency]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] which returns a Member of Parliament (MP) to the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]], at [[Westminster]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/vote2005/html/717.stm|title=Election 2005 – Result: Moray|date=6 May 2005|publisher=BBC News|access-date=30 April 2009}}</ref> * Burghead is part of the [[Moray (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Moray constituency]] of the [[Scottish Parliament]] which has slightly different boundaries to the Westminster constituency. The constituency returns a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) to [[Holyrood, Edinburgh|Holyrood]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2007/scottish_parliament/html/411.stm|title=Scottish Elections 2007 – Moray|date=4 May 2007|publisher=BBC News|access-date=30 April 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The Moray constituency is also part of the [[Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Highlands and Islands electoral region]] which returns seven regional MSPs to Holyrood.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2007/scottish_parliament/html/region_12.stm|title=Scottish elections 2007 – Highland and Islands|date=17 May 2007|publisher=BBC News|access-date=30 April 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Local government=== Burghead is represented at [[Moray Council]] in the ward of [[Heldon and Laich (ward)|Heldon and Laich]], from which four councillors are elected. The members elected from this ward as of [[2022 Moray Council election|the 2022 election]] are: James Allan ([[Scottish Conservative and Unionist]]), Bridget Mustard ([[Scottish Conservative and Unionist]]), John Cowe ([[Independent (politician)|Independent]]), and Neil Cameron ([[Scottish National Party]]).

Burghead was previously represented at Moray Council by the Burghsea ward from which one councillor was elected under the [[first past the post electoral system]]. Since 3 May 2007 the [[Single Transferable Vote|STV electoral system]] has been used in [[Local government in Scotland|local elections]] throughout Scotland, which means that Burghead is represented by several councillors in the significantly larger Heldon & Laich ward.

==Population (demography)== The town had a population of 829 in 1841.<ref>{{cite book |title=The National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge |date=1848 |publisher=Charles Knight |location=London |page=785|volume=V |edition=First}}</ref> The population of Burghead in 1991 according to the [[United Kingdom Census 1991|1991 Census]] was 1,495.<ref>[http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files/setloc-ks01.pdf 1991 Census data] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927205616/http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files/setloc-ks01.pdf |date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> Data from the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]] showed Burghead's population had risen to 1,640;<ref>[http://www.moray.gov.uk/census_2001/uvtownspop_burghead.htm 2001 Census data, Moray Council] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050418153146/http://www.moray.gov.uk/census_2001/uvtownspop_burghead.htm |date=18 April 2005 }}</ref> however, mid-2004 estimates showed the population had risen again slightly to 1,680.<ref>[http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files1/stats/04mid-year-estimates-settlements-table1.pdf Mid-2004 population estimates, General Register of Scotland] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125220936/http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files1/stats/04mid-year-estimates-settlements-table1.pdf |date=25 January 2012 }}</ref> The 2001 data makes Burghead the eighth-largest town in Moray behind [[Keith, Moray|Keith]], [[Kinloss, Scotland|Kinloss]] and [[Lhanbryde]] but ahead of [[Hopeman]], [[Dufftown]] and [[Fochabers]].

Males in Burghead make up 53.6% of the population; this is higher than the figure of 49.97% for Moray which itself is slightly higher than the 48.05% for Scotland. Males in Burghead do not outnumber females nearly as much over the age of 25 as they do under 25, as the number of males per female is significantly lower over age 25 (1.05) than it is under 25 (1.45).

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Population ! Place of birth ! Age structure ! Religion ! Ethnic group |- |valign="top" |'''Males:''' 871 (53.6%) '''Females:''' 679 (46.4%)

'''Total:'''1,640 |valign="top" |'''United Kingdom:'''96.46% '''Scotland:''' 74.51% '''England:''' 19.76% '''Wales:''' 1.34% '''Northern Ireland:''' 0.85% '''Republic of Ireland:''' 0.3% '''Rest of Europe:''' 1.71% '''Elsewhere:''' 1.52% |valign="top" |'''Under 16 years:''' 20.12% '''16–65 years:''' 66.04% '''65+ years:''' 13.84% '''0–4 years:''' 4.94% '''5–15 years:''' 15.18% '''16–24 years:''' 9.63% '''25–44 years:''' 32.93% '''45–64 years:''' 23.48% '''65–74 years:''' 8.54% '''75+ years:''' 5.3% |valign="top" | '''Church of Scotland:''' 46.65% '''Roman Catholic:''' 5.3% '''Other Christian:''' 15.85% '''Buddhist:''' 0.12% '''Another Religion:''' 0.24% '''None:''' 27.32% '''Not answered:''' 4.51% |valign="top" |'''White Scottish:''' 76.65% '''Other White British:''' 20% '''White Irish:''' 0.55% '''Other White:''' 2.01% '''Indian:''' 0.06% '''Other South Asian:''' 0.6% '''Mixed background:''' 0.37% '''Other:''' 0.3% |}

<gallery> File:Population of Burghead by gender.PNG|Population (''click to enlarge'') File:Burghead birth place (UK).png|Place of birth – UK (''click to enlarge'') File:Burghead place of birth.png|Place of birth (''click to enlarge'') File:Burghead Religion.png|Religion (''click to enlarge'') File:Burghead age Structure 1.png|General Age Structure (''click to enlarge'') File:Burghead age structure 2.png|Detailed Age Structure (''click to enlarge'') File:Burghead ethnic group.png|Ethnic Group (''click to enlarge'') </gallery> '''Sources''': [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213005/http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainLevel=Locality&mainText=Burghead&mainTextExplicitMatch=null&c Scotland's Census Results Online], [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/ General Register Office for Scotland] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20050418153146/http://www.moray.gov.uk/census_2001/uvtownspop_burghead.htm Moray Council] (2001 Census data) {{Clear}}

===Other facts=== * [[Median]] age of a male: 36 * Median age of a female: 39 * Number of males per female (under age 25): 1.45 * Number of males per female (over age 25): 1.05 * Percentage of households where not all persons are in the same: ** Place of birth category: 25.42 ** Religious category: 30.9 ** Ethnic category: 1.07 {{clear}} '''Source''': [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213005/http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainLevel=Locality&mainText=Burghead&mainTextExplicitMatch=null&c Scotland's Census Results Online]

==Economy== {{see also|Moray#Economy}} [[File:Burghead employmennt.PNG|thumb|410px|Sector of employment (''click to enlarge'')]] Burghead and the Moray area in general are heavily dependent on [[RAF Lossiemouth]], a [[Royal Air Force]] station, and [[RAF Kinloss|Kinloss Barracks]], a barracks for the [[Royal Engineers]], which are located at roughly equal distances on either side of Burghead. Until 2011 Kinloss Barracks was also an RAF station, RAF Kinloss, and in 2005 the stations contributed £156.5 million to the Moray economy, of which £76.6 million was retained and spent locally. The stations have at one time been responsible for providing, directly or indirectly, 21 per cent of all employment in the Moray area.

Other sectors offering significant employment are local authority, construction and real estate, food and drink, transport, tourism, business services and wholesale/retail.

In the past fishing, particularly herring fishing, was a large part of the economy of Burghead. Langoustine fishing, mainly for the European market, now contributes little to the overall economy; in 2001, fishing accounted for just 2.12% of employment in Burghead.

There is a large malting plant located in the town and in 2009, a large modern distillery was completed at the junction of the Burghead/Kinloss B9089.

Just outside Burghead there is a large radio transmitter owned by [[Arqiva]], the [[Burghead transmitting station]].

'''Source:''' [http://www.hie.co.uk/ Highland & Islands Enterprise]

==Fishing== The following description from the Annual Report of the Fishery Board for 1902<ref>{{cite journal |author= |date= 1902 |title=23rd Report:Appendices |journal=Annual Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland |location=Edinburgh |page=52-55 |publisher=His Majesty's Stationery Office}}</ref> provides an insight into the statstics for Burghead shown below: "The summer herring fishing at this creek was alamost a complete failure; only a few of the older class of boats remained at home to follow after it. The fishermen do comparatively little fishing from their own port now. A splendid fleet of large-sized and well-equipped sailing boats is now owned at the port. In the course of the year an addition of three large-sized new ones were made to the fleet. It is the herring fishing that the fishermen mostly depend upon. During the year they are particularly fortunate, excepting at the Irish stations. One crew, however, earned £335 on the coast of Donegal in the short space of six weeks. They were very successful at Shetland and the Aberdeenshire stations. Sixteen crews participated in the remunerative season at the English herring fishing centres. Two local curers conducted operations at several of the southern ports. A large number of workers were drafted to these stations."

{{multiple image | align = centre | perrow=2 | header=Fishery Statistics | total_width=600 | background_color=#C5CBE1 | image1 = Burghead tonnage.png | caption1=Tonnage of vessels | image2 =Burghead Cwt landed.png | caption2= Cwt of fish landed (excluding shellfish) | image3 = Burghead vessels.png | caption3=Vessels by class | image4 =Burghead value.png | caption4=Value (£) of fish landed | image5 = Burghead fishermen.png | caption5= Fishermen | image6=Burghead curing stations.png | caption6=Number of curing stations }}

==Transport==

===Roads=== Three roads converge on Burghead, the B9013, the B9012 and the B9089. The B9013 connects to the [[A96 road|A96]] ([[Aberdeen]] to [[Inverness]]) and would generally be used to get to Elgin, the B9012 connects to Elgin via [[Hopeman]] and [[Duffus]], and the B9089 connects to [[Kinloss, Scotland|Kinloss]] and to the A96 via the B9011 ([[Findhorn]] to [[Forres]]).

===Bus and train=== * There is a regular bus service (32) which connects [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]] via Duffus.<ref>[http://www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables/323328329331pckttt20082007.pdf Bus Timetable, Stagecoach] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927193217/http://www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables/323328329331pckttt20082007.pdf |date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> The service is operated by [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]] under the name [[Stagecoach East Scotland|Stagecoach Bluebird]]. [[File:Burghead railway station 1939712 15041401.jpg|thumb|right|275px|Remains of Burghead railway station in 1974]] * The [[Elgin railway station|nearest railway station]] is approximately {{convert|9|mi|km}} away in Elgin. The station is on the [[Aberdeen to Inverness Line]] and generally only offers services to [[Aberdeen]] (90 minutes travel) and [[Inverness]] (50 minutes travel),<ref>[http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/tt/1179677858-express%20north-1.pdf Train timetable, First Scotrail] {{dead link|date=August 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> though more direct services are available. [[Inverness railway station|Inverness station]] and [[Aberdeen railway station|Aberdeen station]] then provide services to the rest of Britain. All train services within Scotland are operated by [[ScotRail]], who operate the franchise.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/business/FirstGroup-drives-up-profits-by.2577097.jp|title=FirstGroup drives up profits by 9 per cent|date=2004-11-03|publisher=Edinburgh Evening News|access-date=2008-08-31}}</ref>

[[File:Burghead pier.jpg|thumb|230px|Harbour pier, looking towards [[Findhorn]]]]

===Air and sea=== * The two nearest passenger airports to the town are [[Inverness Airport]] (INV) at approximately {{convert|30|mi|km}} and [[Aberdeen Airport]] (ABZ) at approximately {{convert|70|mi|km}}. Inverness generally provides services to the UK and Ireland whereas Aberdeen provides services to both domestic and international destinations. Aberdeen Airport is the second-largest helicopter terminal in the world and serves the many [[North Sea oil]] installations. * Burghead harbour is mainly used by fishing boats and is regarded by [[Moray|Moray Council]] as primarily a commercial harbour<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moray.gov.uk/devplan2000/New/Dev_plan/Assets/PDF_Files/Town_Statements/Burghead.pdf|title=Moray development plan|publisher=Moray Council|access-date=14 September 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621233708/http://www.moray.gov.uk/devplan2000/New/Dev_plan/Assets/PDF_Files/Town_Statements/Burghead.pdf|archive-date=21 June 2011}}</ref> but it is also used for recreational purposes. During 2007 the harbour's North Quay received a substantial upgrade, financed jointly by Moray Council and the [[European Union]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_news/news_54592.html|title=Harbour environmental improvements|date=24 January 2008|publisher=Moray Council|access-date=14 September 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202070049/http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_news/news_54592.html|archive-date=2 December 2008}}</ref>

==Sport==

===Football=== The town is currently home to two football teams: [[Burghead Thistle F.C.|Burghead Thistle]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/3373/Burghead_boss_tips_United_for_title.html|title=Burghead boss tips United for title|date=16 November 2007|publisher=Northern Scot|access-date=2 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206113837/http://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/3373/Burghead_boss_tips_United_for_title.html|archive-date=6 December 2007}}</ref> and Burghead United.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.banffshire-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/1262/Fixtures_called_off.html|title=Fixtures called off|date=2 May 2007|publisher=Banffshire Journal|access-date=2 October 2009}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It was previously home to another football team, the Burghead Anchors.

Burghead Thistle compete in [[Scottish Junior Football North Division Two|Division Two]] of the [[Scottish Junior Football Association, North Region|SJFA North Region]] and play their home games at Forrest Park, just outside Burghead.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.valeoflevenfc.co.uk/matchreports/2002-2003/2002-11-09.html|title=Burghead Thistle 1-3 Vale of Leven|date=9 November 2002|publisher=Vale of Leven Football & Athletic Club|access-date=2 October 2009}}</ref> In 2008 Thistle were awarded the Elginshire Cup without playing in a final after New Elgin and Lossiemouth United were both thrown out of the competition.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/4857/United_in_shock_after_judgement.html|title=United in shock after judgement|date=9 May 2008|publisher=Northern Scot|access-date=2 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514145101/http://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/4857/United_in_shock_after_judgement.html|archive-date=14 May 2008}}</ref>

Burghead United compete in the [[Moray District Welfare Football Association|Moray District Welfare]] Premier Division.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moraywelfare.com/leaguetables.htm|title=Moray District Welfare Football Association League Tables|publisher=Moray District Welfare Football Association|access-date=2 October 2009}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> United share a close rivalry with fellow Premier Division team Hopeman FC, based in the town of [[Hopeman]] about {{Convert|2.5|mile|km}} from Burghead.

'''Golf'''

Burghead & Duffus Golf Club was founded in 1896, permanently closing with the onset of [[World War II]].<ref>[http://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/scotland-63/north-east/morayshire/122-burghead-a-duffus-golf-club-elgin “Burghead & Duffus Golf Club”], "Golf’s Missing Links".</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.burghead.com/ Burghead Visitor Centre] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050418153146/http://www.moray.gov.uk/census_2001/uvtownspop_burghead.htm Census data] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050424194621/http://www.robinwilson.net/burghead/burghead.html Panorama from Burghead pier 1] (QuickTime required) * [https://web.archive.org/web/20071203223341/http://www.robinwilson.net/burghead2/burghead.html Panorama from Burghead pier 2] (QuickTime required) * [https://web.archive.org/web/20071203223356/http://www.robinwilson.net/burgheadcliff/burgheadcliff.html Panorama from Burghead cliff] (QuickTime required) * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100609053243/http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/burgheadprimaryschoolmoray.asp Burghead Primary's page on Scottish Schools Online] * [http://www.vimeo.com/18847640 Anna McPherson, ''The Clavie''] (short film, 2010). Retrieved 19 January 2014 * [https://elainemaslin.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/burning-the-clavie-at-burghead Elaine Maslin, "Burning the Clavie at Burghead"]. Retrieved 19 January 2014

[[Category:Burghead| ]] [[Category:Towns in Moray]]