The town of Elgin in Moray is one of those towns which due to its remote location is often missed when considering a Scottish excursion. This is a shame as Elgin is steeped in history, remarkably dry and temperate given it is in the rain shadow of the surrounding mountains and it even sports a Scottish League Football team.
Have we piqued your interest? Good then read on and learn a bit more about this smashing wee town.
So where is Elgin? Well it on the north-east-ish tip of Scotland near the coast, hence it’s not too cold and on the River Lossie. It is the administrative centre for the County of Moray which it’s self is nestled between Aberdeenshire & The Highlands. This makes it a great place to use as a base for exploring the County of Moray or the nearby Highlands and it is pretty close to the sea too if that takes your fancy. Anyway, we will explore that further below once we have given you a bit of an Elgin History Lesson.
A Potted Elgin History
One of the kirks (churches) erected in Elgin was put there in 1140 AD and is still being used to this day. We hope they have added heating and running water since then. It was made a royal burgh by King David I and has a place in history as the sight of the battle with the real Macbeth in 1040.
The Stewarts, the Bruce’s and just about every clan that starts with a ‘Mac’ (which means ‘son of’) can be found in Moray… but the Murray clan (or the Moray clan) are the heroes of this particular area. Their motto is ‘Furth fortune and fill the fetters’ (which means find stuff and get richer) and they share a common ancestor with Clan Sutherland. Their motto is ‘without fear’ which is much, much cooler.
So if you have to spend some time in this lovely town, what sort of sights can you expect to see? We put together this five minutes guide to help you make the most of your holiday!
Elgin At-a-Glance
So what are our favourite attractions in Elgin? We listed them below for your amusement.
Elgin Cathedral
Elgin was once technically a city since it had its own cathedral (something the local football team agrees with). It functioned for a few years and was burned down… nobody is quite sure why they never built it back up again. The shell of the building was left intact. It is this shell that you can have a tour of, even to this day. This gorgeous old building was opened in 1224 and has been a world heritage site since 1995. We have a fair few world heritage sights up here.
Image: Dave Head/Shutterstock.com
Last entry is around 3.30 so go early in the afternoon. It does come with a price tag but the guided tours, information, and access to the safe parts of the building are all worth it.
Spynie Palace
Another interesting sight in Elgin that is run by Historic Scotland is Spynie Palace. Rather than being a clan seat as most Scottish palaces and manor houses are, Spynie was the historical seat of the Bishops of Moray. Established around about the same time as the cathedral, the Bishops of Moray lived in this fortified tower residence for several years.
As with many Historic Scotland properties, this place has been partially restored. You can browse the rooms at your leisure, take a tour, or just go for the photo op. Either way, you will educate yourself on some of the fine history of Elgin.
The Glen Moray Distillery
According to Trip Advisor, this is the very best attraction in Elgin. It has been in operation along the banks of the River Lossie since 1897 and now produces a variety of fine malts that you won’t soon forget. Scotland is famous for whiskeys exactly like this – but we don’t blame you if the tour is a little out of your price range.
Visit during May, instead, and try to catch the Whisky Festival. You will learn loads, sample loads, and the weather will be better. We also hear the BBQ they hold is a great event and that their on-site coffee shop is brilliant, too.
Alpaca Days Out
Although you have to pre-book this one, it is the perfect thing to do in Elgin if you have a special needs child or if you just love the sensory experience for yourself. You will be given a warm welcome, shown to the alpaca enclosure, learn all about the animals and lead some of the younger ones through the woods while you are there. To top off an excellent afternoon, we hear rumours of tea and cake. Alpacas, tea, and cake. Let that sink in for a moment before you move on to the next attraction.
The Moray Motor Museum
This place is a firm favourite for those young enough to love cars, old enough to remember some classic models, or still new enough to driving to still find motors thrilling. The Motor Museum holds a dazzling collection of classic, vintage cars. It is actually housed in an old mill building that dates back to the times of the Bishops of Moray who – at one time – ruled over Moravia… the former kingdom we now know as Moray.
Other Notable Elgin Attractions
As well as these five main events, there are a number of other Elgin attractions that you should try to get along to; the next time you have five minutes. Some of these attractions include:
- Duffus Castle – it’s pretty high up on the list of top attractions, we just felt three ruins on one list was too much. Although it does have a seriously awesome name…
- Hopeman East Beach – go visit the beach. We suggest you only do this in the summer or spring but it is still good for a dog walk in winter. Take a scarf.
- Walk around the Biblical Garden of Elgin – which is exactly as ‘I’m here on a pilgrimage’ as it sounds.
If you are looking for the best place to eat in Elgin then try Scribbles. On the other hand, the Drouthy Cobbler has been voted as one of the ten best gastro-pubs in the entire country. It would be a crime to come this far north and not do anything about that.
Sport In Elgin
Football
If you fancy taking in a game then pop down to the Borough Briggs stadium, home to Elgin City FC. They have been around since 1895 and Have Been Highland League champions fourteen times! They joined the Scottish Football League in 2000 and they currently play in League Two.
Rugby union
Moray RFC was established in 1923 and play their home games at Morriston Playing Fields.
Cricket
Elgin Cricket Club plays home games on the Cooper Park cricket pitch under the auspices of North of Scotland Cricket Association.
Ice hockey
Elgin was home to the Moray Typhoons who played their home games at the Moray Leisure Centre. They seem to be on a sabbatical currently.
So there we have it a speedy overview of Elgin a town well worth adding to your staycation shortlist.
Got Some Spare Time?
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