The parish of Lonmay covers an area of approximately 20 square miles. It stretches from St Combs by the sea in the north to its southern boundary at Kininmonth. The history of St Combs is linked to the fishing industry, but now most of the working population are employed in the nearby towns of Fraserburgh and Peterhead and on oil rigs off shore.
From St Combs (population 850) a sandy beach stretches 5 miles south to Rattray Head, with the Loch of Strathbeg R.S.P.B. Nature Reserve on its landward side. Further inland and towards the West and South, the parish of Lonmay supports around 40 farms pursuing both arable farming and livestock production. In its fertile soil are grown, among other things, the famous Lonmay potatoes and Buchan beef is also a well-known product of the area.
One and a half miles north of St Combs lie the villages of Inverallochy and Cairnbulg, which are, however, in the Parish of Rathen.