📌 Elgin, Moray
★★★
A couple of miles north of Elgin, Spynie Palace is an extensive ruin and a symbol of the wealth and power of the medieval church. Construction began on a bishop’s residence in the late 12th century, and the bishops of Moray would continue to reside there for five centuries – even after Elgin Cathedral was built in the 1220s. The imposing property even used to have direct access to the Moray Firth: nearby Spynie Loch was once a sea loch, and much more extensive than it is today. The oldest surviving parts of the palace date from the 1300s. The 6-storey David’s Tower dominates the site, but turns out to be a draughty shell on the inside – look out for bits of the old plasterwork. There are good views from the top nevertheless, from which you can gaze across the flat Laich o’ Moray and down on the rest of the buildings dotted around the courtyard. The stark, LEGO-block shape of the tower along with the very ruinous other parts of the site perhaps means the property doesn’t deliver on the charm front, but it completes the story of the nearby cathedral. Good value, joint tickets covering both are available.
🌍 Location
📌 Off the A941 3 mi north of Elgin
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NJ 231659
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.675918,-3.291117
❌ Buses pass on the A941, but there’s no official stop
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
⌚ Wednesday to Sunday, 29 March to September 2024
🎫 £7.50 adult / £4.50 child / free for Historic Environment Scotland members. Joint ticket with Elgin Cathedral available
