What is the history of Moray and why is it called the Ladder Hills?

Moray is named after the Ladder Pass, an ancient route connecting Moray and Aberdeenshire to the east. This area was once a refuge for Catholics escaping the Scottish Reformation and later for illicit distillers and whisky smugglers. Today, it attracts solitude-seeking hikers. The Glen Nochty and Glen Ernan areas have good riverside locations for wild camps.