Inside the coveted beach huts at popular Moray beauty spot in Findhorn which owners say are ‘priceless’
Tucked along the Moray coast, Findhorn’s beach huts stand modest in size, limited in utilities and yet, according to their owners, utterly priceless.
Officially sanctioned by Moray Council just over a decade ago, these timber structures have become one of the most sought-after assets in the region.
They have no electricity, no running water and at a price of more than £30,000 each, many could be forgiven for being dismissive of them.
But on the rare occasion that one comes up for sale, only 30 were given approval by the council, it is often snapped up.
So what is it about these huts that makes them so coveted and what do the owners get out of them to feel they are getting value for money?
For David Mallon, a father of five from Aberdour, the answer lies in their peacefulness.
“I study and practice mindfulness,” he told The Northern Scot.
“Being by the sea gives me a wonderful connection to nature. A few days in our hut is a way to switch off from everyday life so it’s a bit of a sanctuary in that sense.”
Mr Mallon bought his hut in 2022. Work limits his own visits but the space has become a retreat for his wife Gertrud, his grown children, and even his grandchildren.
“We use it every time of year,” he said.
“It’s simple, and I think that’s a plus not only for ourselves but for others who have a beach hut.
“We recognise that we can’t use it every week so we give others the opportunity and let it out as well.
“I know that a lot of people mention the price, and we were in the fortunate position to be able to afford one, but at the end of the day I was looking at what value the beach hut would have to me.
“The value was that I could do things I otherwise couldn’t do and I felt reasonably confident that if I ever want to sell then I could because they’re very popular.”
Their simplicity and location on Findhorn Beach with views of the ocean are why many decide to make the investment.
For local resident Manda Stretch it was no different but nostalgia was another motivator.
“I’d had an experience as a youngster with a beach hut in Lancashire with my aunt,” she said.
“I just remember that feeling of being out of the normal routine. It felt fantastic.”
Years later, while travelling in India, Ms Stretch reached out to rent one and after a single day in the hut she was hooked.
She said: “I knew I couldn’t possibly leave. It’s a bit like a friend who’s always been waiting to greet me.”
She now visits several times a week, often with her grandchildren in tow.
“It’s not about the money,” she added. “It’s the feeling they give you. You can’t put a price on it.”
The huts themselves were designed by Ian Sutherland McCook of 1 Architects Ltd.
On the reasons behind their popularity, he said: “I think we all yearn for the simple innocence of our childhood days and being at the seaside is a potent part of that.”
Practical considerations have also been made in their design. Though entirely timber-built, each hut is made so that every part is replaceable.
“The great-grandchildren of current owners should still be enjoying these huts,” Mr McCook said.
And unlike second homes, beach huts don’t take housing away from residents in Moray - another plus for Mr Mallon and his family.
He said: “If you buy a holiday home, you’re potentially taking a house from someone who needs it.
“With a beach hut, you don’t have that negative so I only saw positives really.”
When the idea for the beach huts was initially tabled over a decade ago, the proposal was met with some opposition.
Over 170 letters objecting to the plans were sent mainly from people living in Findhorn and Forres.
A subsequent legal challenge also failed in 2016.
But time has softened those opinions and the huts have become somewhat iconic features of the beach with one of them even featuring on debit cards issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Mr Mallon said: “The people I speak to are always very positive. They’re really curious and I’ll let them have a look inside.”
And as a further thank you to the local community, two of the huts have been gifted through the Findhorn Village Conservation Council.
“At today’s prices, that’s around £64,000,” Mr McCook said.
And while the price tag might raise eyebrows, both owners and Mr McCook see it differently.
Compared to some beach huts in the south of England, which can fetch upwards of £140,000, Findhorn’s versions are a relative bargain.
One seven-year-old hut recently listed for £32,000, more than it originally cost.
“When you consider what people pay for a single family holiday, or a static caravan that depreciates every year,” Mr McCook added, “the value speaks for itself.”
