Moray is a unitary authority stretching along the north east coast of Scotland. Comprising a natural and man made landscape of remarkable diversity from the high peaks of the Cairngorms through rolling hills to the Laich of Moray, a fertile tract of lowland.
Being protected by the sweep of the Cairngorm Mountains and having the benefit of the Atlantic Drift to warm its coastal waters gives Moray a milder climate than the rest of the country.
The capital town, Elgin, thrives as a centre of administration, education, tourism and trade with agricultural, service and textile industries. It was one of the first Scots burghs created in the 12th century by David I. Occupying a strategic site on the route from Aberdeen to Inverness, its ruined castle was the reputed scene of the murder of King Duncan by Macbeth.
Moray is distillery country, "Rome was built on seven hills, and Dufftown built on seven stills," and many well known malt whiskies are distilled within the boundaries of Moray.
Moray is home to two Royal Air Force bases, RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth. RAF Kinloss is situated beside Findhorn Bay on the coast, a little north of Forres. The large base is home to the RAF's entire Nimrod MR2 fleet. RAF Lossiemouth, situated 5 miles north of Elgin, is one of the RAF's most important bases hosting 4 front-line primary attack squadrons of Tornado GR1 and GR4's.
