📌 Elgin, Moray
★★★★
Elgin Cathedral must have been a truly awe-inspiring sight in its heyday. Former main church of the bishops of Moray, work began on the cathedral in 1224 and it became one of Scotland’s largest: second only to St Andrew’s Cathedral. What was once known as the Lantern of the North is now a bit of a dying ember, though your initial impressions may be coloured heavily by the direction you first approach from; the cathedral looks reasonably complete from some angles, but appears very fragmented from others. You can gaze down on the sorry-looking nave and the better-preserved choir from the top of the tower above the main entrance, while the lower part of the tower houses an exhibition. The octagonal chapter house is also well worth seeking out for its wonderful ceiling. Walking around the perimeter of the site also gives good views – particularly from Cathedral Court, where a admission ticket is not required. Also free of charge is the neighbouring Biblical Garden (covered in the photos below) and Bishop’s House (misleadingly named, since the bishops stayed at the much grander Spynie Palace!). All things considered, there’s a lot to see, and it’s an essential part of any trip to Elgin.
🌍 Location
📌 King Street, 5-min walk east of Elgin town centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NJ 221630
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.650543,-3.305999
🚌 Bus to Elgin | 🚆 Elgin (0.5 mi)
🚗 Street parking nearby
📝 Key info
⌚ Daily
🎫 £10 adult / £6 child / free for Historic Environment Scotland members. Joint ticket with Spynie Palace available when both sites open
