The iconic Burning of the Clavie festival returns this January.
With Hogmanay upon us, Scots all around the country will be getting ready to ring in 2026 in whatever way suits them best. While some will be heading out to extravagant parties, others will be enjoying a quiet evening at home watching television or a festive movie.
However, as strange as it may sound, not everyone in Scotland celebrates New Year at the same time. In fact, there is one small fishing town that won’t be marking the start of 2026 properly for another two weeks—meaning if you head there this month you can celebrate twice.
Burghead is a settlement in Moray that can be found around eight miles northwest of Elgin and is primarily built on a peninsula that projects into the Moray Firth, meaning that it is surrounded by water on three sides. The town has ancient roots but is today home to a population of around just under 2,000 people.
Although Burghead is a popular place to head during the summer when the sun is shining, there is arguably no better time for a visit than January. This is because January 11 marks the annual Burning of the Clavie festival.
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The one-of-a-kind fire festival is how Burghead celebrates New Year each year, with people journeying from across Scotland and beyond to experience it for themselves. The star of the show is the clavie itself—a barrel that is full of wood shavings and tar.
The clavie is ignited and carried through the streets before being set down at an ancient fort and left to burn out. Many attendees choose to take home pieces of the barrel after they fall off, as these are thought to bring good luck throughout the year.
The reason that the Burning of the Clavie is celebrated almost two weeks after Hogmanay has roots going back to the mid-18th century. Around this time, Scotland officially moved from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian one—but Burghead locals decided to continue using the old date for New Year’s.
Aside from the Burning of the Clavie, there are many reasons to visit Burghead this January. The town’s beautiful Burghead Beach and its tranquil harbour are must-sees, while there are also a variety of shops and eateries dotted about the area.
For those looking to head to Burghead this January, there are few different accommodation options to consider. There are both self-catering rentals and hotels available, so every taste is catered to.
One property in Burghead that can be rented out for a holiday is Fisherman’s Rest, which sleeps up to five guests across two bedrooms. The former fisherman’s cottage is available to book for three nights at a price of £363 through Sykes Holiday Cottages.
The cottage includes a sitting room and dining area, as well as a compact but well-equipped kitchen, while there is a lawned garden outside and the beach is a short walk away. Meanwhile, the bedrooms consist of a double room and a family room with a double and single bed.
Fisherman’s Rest has earned positive feedback on Sykes Holiday Cottages, with reviews describing it as “homely” and “very cosy”. On the other hand, one guest claimed that it was “in need of cleaning and updating”.
Elsewhere, The Harbour Inn is a family-run business that offers a wide variety of affordable rooms. An overnight stay for two can be booked for £76.50 through Booking.com.
The Harbour Inn’s rooms feature private bathrooms, free toiletries, showers, TVs, and electric kettles. Meanwhile, it is also home to a terrace, a restaurant, and a bar, while breakfast is provided in the morning.
On Booking.com, the accommodation has an overall rating of 8.8 out of 10 based on feedback from 106 guests. Positive reviews have focused on its “great location” and “outstanding” breakfast, while one guest described their mattress as “lumpy and quite uncomfortable”.
More information about The Burning of the Clavie can be found on the Burghead Visitor Centre website.
