A fishing village in the Moray parish of Duffus, Burghead is situated on a headland overlooking the Moray Firth, 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Elgin. The promontory, which has been occupied since prehistoric times and was a major centre of Pictland, is crowned by the remains of a Pictish fort incorporating a rock-hewn chamber known as The Well. The modern grid-iron town behind the promontory largely dates from the development of the harbour after 1805.
The ancient mid-winter Yule-fire festival known as 'Burning the Clavie' is continued by the local community, or 'Brochers' as they call themselves, on 11th January each year (Old Yule Night), a date retained from the old Julian calendar. The Clavie crew led by the Clavie King take it in turn to carry through the streets the blazing tar-barrel or Clavie, which is made from a whisky barrel and set alight with a burning peat.
The harbour trades in timber and for the tourist there are facilities including a camping and caravan site and a museum.
