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Lossiemouth's development has been ascribed to the need of Elgin for a new port after its original port of Spynie had been cut off from the sea by sand and shingle deposited by the River Lossie. The resulting Loch of Spynie, although noted for its beauty and its swans, was useless to shipping, and the Town Council of Elgin established a harbour at the mouth of the Lossie to handle the increasing trade.
A new impetus was given by the rise of the herring fishing in the nineteenth century. The present harbour was built to accommodate the growing fleet, and a new town, Branderburgh, was laid out on the hilltop to the west by Colonel Brander of Pitgaveny, eventually growing to join the old fishing hamlet of Stotfield. The first of the famous 'Zulu' class fishing boats, the Nonesuch, was designed and built by a Lossiemouth fisherman in 1879 and after the First World War the first modern seine-net vessel was also designed in Lossiemouth.
Alongside the traditional fishing, which is still an important factor in the town's economy, Lossiemouth also owes its prosperity to the tourist industry and to the RAF station just to the south-west.
The Moray coast enjoys exceptionally low rainfall and the
clear climate together with the flat land make the area ideal tor
flying. Originally a flying training school and later a Naval
Air Station, Lossiemouth is now the home base of three Royal
Air Force squadrons. As well as jet-powered Tornados, you
may see a Sea King helicopter from the Search and Rescue
flight or visiting NATO aircraft. The most popular place to
watch activity is from the road near the golf course.
(c) Moray Tourist Board
It is now a thriving fishing port with excellent sandy beaches and good (if rather chilly) surf. Like all coastal towns in the area the architectural style is dominated by small neat white stone cottages.
![[TOWN PLAN]](../maps/lossiemh.gif)