Johnstons of Elgin - Mill Tour One of the highlights of a visit to the Elgin is a tour around the mill at Newmill, Elgin. You can take a free guided tour of the entire manufacturing process with one of the experienced tour guides. Watch for yourself as the cashmere is dyed, teased, carded, spun and hand finished by the latest generation of Elgin craftsmen.
01 02 03 page one
Lossiemouth
page two
page three
Elgin High Street
Moray Firth Dolphins
04 05 06 07 08 09 page four
Macbeth
page seven
Elgin Cathedral
page five
Best Of
page eight
Dufftown
page six
Malt Whisky Trail
page nine
Duffus Castle
index
01 page one
Home to RAF Lossiemouth, one of the main operating bases of the RAF. No. 617 Squadron (The Dambusters)
Lossiemouth -
THE JEWEL IN THE MORAY FIRTH Set at the mouth of the River Lossie on the beautiful Moray coast of Scotland, the town of Lossiemouth is a well established port town. Home to several examples of incredible architecture from different centuries and two fabulous beaches.
miles of excellent beaches an
The town owes its existence to Elgin's need for a port to service its trade
The beach at West Bay, stretches for three miles to the west, beyond the headland housing Covesea Lighthouse and the landing lights signifying the end of one of the runways of RAF Lossiemouth. The East Beach is reached by a pedestrian bridge and includes some impressive sand dunes at its start.
The most famous son of Lossiemouth is Ramsay Macdonald, the first Prime Minister from the Labour Party.
Modern Lossiemouth has more to offer than its harbours, its famous inhabitants and the regular plan of the town itself. It offers history and diversity, sailing and surfing, sea angling and taking a boat ride to see the famous Moray Firth dolphins. There is something for everyone to see and do.
nd beautiful surrounding countryside.
02 page two
“A very agreeable place to live in”
Daniel Defoe
Elgin High Street is now pedestrianised, however, it still provides a glimpse into a time when it was the main thoroughfare for commercial and medieval traffic.
The Little Cross of 1733 and the Muckle Cross are symbols of a medieval High Street that widens to a cobbled market place. The present Muckle Cross dates to 1888, however, there was a cross as early as 1365.
Narrow wynds run off the High Street and it’s these closes that linked the three parallel lines of streets that ran from the castle to the cathedral.
In the nineteenth century Elgin was transformed, with the High Street the focus for many of its grandest buildings
The earliest house surviving on the street is the Tower built for Alexander Leslie in 1634 and may have been a house of the Knights of St John.
Thunderton House dates back to the 1500’s and was the official Royal Residence for the early Scottish Kings and later the Earls of Moray.
03 page three
The Scottish Dolphin Centre at Spey Bay is the perfect location for watching and learning about dolphins.
A visitor centre, within the largest ice-house in Scotland, has fully interactive cameras to watch the wildlife.
Moray and Speyside is one of the best, if not the best place in the UK, to see dolphins.
The Moray Firth is home to the most northerly colony of Bottlenose Dolphins in the world. They are also the largest Bottlenose Dolphins in the world.
If you want to experience dolphins wild and free in their natural environment, then you’re in the right place.
Moray Firth, however, is home to more than just the Dolphins. Minke whales and harbour porpoises, as well as the odd basking shark, can be seen in the summer months. Seabirds, seals and otters add to the all round experience.
Moray Firth - a beautiful, rare and diverse place.
Good hotspots for watching dolphins from land include Hopeman, Spey Bay and Burghead.
04 page four
Macbeth Less of an historical figure and more a fictional character. Time to put the record straight.
1040 After an unsuccessful campaign in England, the army of Duncan I attempted to re- assemble and secure additional territory in the north of Scotland. He was able to get as far as Moray without resistance.
On 14 August, 1040 the army of the Mormaer of Orkney, and, in the absence of Thorfinn, led by the Mormaer of Moray, Macbeth, met and defeated the King at Pitgaveney (then called Bothnagowan) near Elgin. Macbeth slew the King, himself, on the battlefield.
Later that month Macbeth entered Scone, the Scottish capital, leading the victorious army. To the citizens of the capital he presented himself as candidate to the throne.
Macbeth, at the age of thirty-five, was crowned High King of Scotland.
Mac Bethad mac Findlรกich wa
The last of the Gaelic Kings of Scotland
1032 Macbeth was elected as Mormaer of Moray
For the most part Macbeth ruled a relatively peaceful and prosperous kingdom. He and his wife Gruoch were particularly generous to the church, especially to the monastery of Loch Leven in Kinross.
Macbeth was no more or less brutal or murderous than any ruler of this time. More detail can be found on the website.
1057 The end came on August 15, 1057 when, after fierce battle, Malcolm MacDuncan's men killed King Macbeth as he tried to make it to his province, Moray, with a contingent of bodyguards. His body was buried in the holy isle of Iona in a ceremony worthy of a lawful king of Scotland.
as born in 1005.
05 page five
Best Of
• to do • to eat & drink • to shop
Harbour Lights
Outfit Moray
Overlooking the Marina, in a secluded corner of Lossiemouth, the Harbour Lights Cafe & Restaurant, Lossiemouth, Moray is a bustling daytime Cafe specialising in All day Breakfasts, Lunches, Snacks, Home Baking and a variety of Teas & Coffees.
Outfit Moray is an award winning outdoor education charity based in Lossiemouth, Moray, NE Scotland. We offer activities, courses and tailored programmes for schools, adults, families, and groups. Any money we make goes straight back into helping us to make a positive difference to the lives of the young people we work with.
On Saturday evenings, the Harbour Lights Cafe & Restaurant in Lossiemouth, Moray is transformed into a candlelit restaurant offering a freshly prepared A la Carte Dinner menu. The menu changes quarterly to reflect local and seasonal produce and now features a wider selection of dishes, including some popular choices and vegetarian options.
We offer a flexible equipment hire service so that you can walk, camp, bike or canoe in Moray without having to own the equipment. We can recommend places to go for biking, canoeing, surfing and walking.
North 58
Cluny Bank
Join us onboard for an exhilarating trip out to the Moray Firth, exploring the beautiful Moray coastline and its amazing and abundant wildlife.
Franklin’s Restaurant is Cluny Bank’s star turn. It’s award-winning food is renowned throughout Moray, and the hard work of chef/owner Lloyd Kenny. Lloyd’s list of culinary awards at Cluny Bank are: ● SHA Real and Local Food Restaurant of the Year 2011 ● Restaurant Special Commendation 2010 ● Real Food Chef Medaille d’Or 2010 ● Taste of Grampian Restaurant of the Year 2008
Operating out of Findhorn, the jewel of the north east of Scotland, North 58 Sea Adventures offers you the chance to do something a little different with truly unique experience.
When booking a table it is yours for the night, so we only shop and prepare for the reservations made and our guests arriving or staying in the hotel.
Benromach - Distillery Tour We invite you to discover the secret of Benromach for yourself. On your visit, you can see the mash tun, and the burnished copper stills, and witness our experienced distillers create the unique qualities of Benromach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Enjoy a personal tour with a friendly guide or from the man behind the malt', Distillery Manager, Keith Cruickshank. Experience a tutored tasting, wander through our museum or exclusively hand fill your own unique bottle of Benromach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky to commemorate your visit.
The Bakehouse Cafe
Bijou Cafe
We are open 7 days a week throughout the year, offering a changing menu of seasonal foods complimented by breads and other baked goods produced by our adjacent organic bakery.
Bijou Is a destination store which opened in June 2010. It is located in the old institute building which was completely revamped in a major renovation.
The majority of our ingredients are sourced from the local Moray region and whenever available are grown to organic / Demeter standards. As subscribers to the principles of the slow food movement we also endeavour to purchase products that are of artisan quality and fairly traded. In both the cafe and the bakery our food is prepared from scratch every day.
It compromises of a gift, card and jewellery store in the downstairs section with a 62 seat coffee shop on the first floor. All food is made on the premises and we pride ourself on our baking which won an award at The Scottish Homebaking Awards. Our coffee shop serves triple certified coffee and is table service in a very modern clean environment.
Best Of
• to do • to eat & drink • to shop
Qismat Tandoori Restaurant Our restaurant offers a fantastic dining atmosphere. Our Various menus offer wholesome dishes from every corner of India with spices, herbs, textures and flavours to lure any diner into our true Indian atmosphere. We boast some of the finest and authentic chefs, all the way from India, preparing creative and innovative dishes. Each chef offers expert knowledge of his regional dishes and their preparation. We also offer a comprehensive wine list to enhance your dining experience. “We can’t wait to serve you”.
Ace Adventures Moray based Activity Center offering the best year round White Water Rafting in the UK with additional Outdoor Adventure Activities. Outdoor Adventure Activities at Ace Auchnagairn: ● White Water Rafting & Cliff Jumping ● River Tubing & Cliff Jumping ● Family White Water Rafting ● Canoeing & Kayaking ● Canyoning ● Paintball
Lido Restaurant
Brodie Countryfare
Naturally you want to enjoy a pleasant dining experience that will appeal to everyone in the group.
Brodie Countryfare the relaxing shopping experience.......
The Lido Restaurant offers great service, atmosphere and a French/European menu. Everyone is more than welcome at this little gem in Elgin.
Situated in a relaxing rural environment just a few minutes drive from Brodie Castle, we have created one of the most pleasant shopping experiences in the North of Scotland, providing a blend of quality and a traditional Scottish welcome. Foodhall & Delicatessen Womenswear Menswear Gifts and Interiors
Best Of
• to do • to eat & drink • to shop
Mosset Tavern
Gordon & MacPhail
Open seven days, our restaurant offers a superb selection of dishes for all occasions be it a simple soup and sandwich or a three course meal, and on Sundays our famous carvery awaits those with a hearty appetite who seek great wholesome food at fantastic prices.
When you visit the shop you will be greeted with the aroma of home cooked local gammon, the largest selection of the finest cheeses available in North East Scotland and shelves packed with a fantastic array of high quality grocery products.
At the Mosset Tavern children are more than welcome therefore making us the ideal venue to bring the family along, relax and enjoy fine Scottish fayre in a great location. We can cater for small or large groups, special occasions or a simply intimate dinner for two, so why not book your table and come along.
No visit to the Gordon & MacPhail store would be complete without a visit to the Whisky Room. Stocking around 1000 different single malt whiskies, the Whisky Room attracts customers from throughout the world to its crowded shelves. Browsing through the wide selection of whiskies, many of which are very old and extremely rare, you have entered the Aladdin’s Cave of whisky.
Mansion House Hotel & Country Club This intimate award winning restaurant offers a memorable mix of modern & traditional menus with a few Scottish favourites. As a great alternative, visit the hotel's Bistro and enjoy a superb selection of food in a less formal atmosphere. Only the finest of fresh produce is used in both restaurants and the hotel boasts a fine selection of wines from around the world.
Glen Moray Visitors Centre A warm welcome awaits you at Glen Moray Distillery in Elgin. Glen Moray has been distilled on the banks of the River Lossie since 1897 by a small dedicated team of craftsmen. Take a tour at Glen Moray and your guide could be one of our craftsmen – each guide knows the process like the back of their hand.
Best Of
• to do • to eat & drink • to shop
Johnstons of Elgin
The 1629 Restaurant
Known for our extraordinary cashmere and beautiful tweed products, Johnstons of Elgin have been proudly manufacturing in Scotland since 1797. Our history is one of quality, resilience and outstanding provenance. We are the only mill in Scotland to take cashmere from fibre to fabric and we are the relied upon manufacturer for international fashion brands and Savile Row tailors alike.
The 1629 Restaurant in Lossiemouth has firmly established itself over the years as Moray's favourite eating-place.
Long renowned for our expertise in design, cashmere and fine woollens, the Johnstons of Elgin brand is inspired by our rich Scottish heritage and provenance.
Under the expert guidance of chef/proprietor David Guidi and family the food ranges from succulent-steaks to classical French and Italian dishes.
Walkers Shortbread It was over a hundred years ago that the Walker family started baking shortbread in the Speyside village of Aberlour, surrounded by the picturesque landscape of the Scottish highlands, and it is where they remain to this day. In its distinctive tartan packaging, Walkers range of products is packed with Scottish character, both inside and out. The name Walkers is recognised as a mark of excellence the world over, a true Scottish classic.
06 page six
The exact origins of whisky in Scotland are unknown. It is thought that monks, in the ninth century, brought the secret of the distillation process from the Middle East where Arab doctors had perfected the process for medicinal purposes.
Malt Whisky Trail “encapsulating the true spirit of Scotland” Moray and Speyside has Best Of opportunities to visit the world’s most distinctive and famous distilleries. Immerse yourself in the history, see the distillation process from start to finish and sample a selection of remarkable spirits.
More than half of all the whisky distilleries in Scotland are located in Moray and Speyside.
If you’re seeking world renowned choice and experience, then there really is only one place to go…
don’t settle for second best… choose Moray and Speyside
Uisghe Beatha “The Water of Life”
Glenfiddich, Glen Grant, Strathisla, Glen Moray, Benromach, Dallas Dhu, Cardu and Glenlivet, as well as the Speyside Cooperage are the basis of the trail. That said there are many more world renowned marques available to the visitor.
The Malt Whisky Trail is a stand out tourist attraction in Scotland. Highland scenery, a beautiful coastline and attractive towns and villages complement the heritage and the trail and will linger in the soul long after after you have left.
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Elgin Cathedral “the lantern of the North�
Elgin Cathedral was a simple cruciform building, but after it was damaged by fire in 1270 the choir doubled in length and a Chapter House was built.
In 1390, the “Wolf Of
In 1224, the foundation stone of the new Elgin Cathedral was ceremoniously laid. Now standing as one of the most glorious ruins in Scotland, “the lantern of the North”, remains a must see attraction in Moray.
Badenoch”, son of King Robert II, burned the Cathedral and the towns of Elgin and Forres after being excommunicated by the Bishop of Moray. The resultant repairs included the rebuilding of the central tower and the Chapter House.
After the Reformation in 1560, the Cathedral was effectively redundant. The lead was stripped from the roofs in 1567 and the choir roof collapsed in 1637. In 1711, the central tower collapsed, destroying the North transept.
Whilst much of the Cathedral has crumbled away, the main 13th century construction still remains. The massive West towers provide an imposing entrance for visitors and invites further exploration of the tombs and effigies in the choir chapel.
The octagonal Chapter House is unique in Scotland.
08 page eight
The “Malt Whisky Capital of the World” is the biggest exporter of whisky in the UK and home to the annual Speyside Whisky Festival.
Whisky is just part of the overall attraction and activities that draw visitors to the town of Dufftown. That said, the seven stills whisky tour and the Dufftown museum are a reminder of the importance of whisky in the towns heritage and development.
There are two castles in the area and a church, built on a place of Pictish worship, dating back to 566. The Clock Tower, built in 1839, was originally the town jail and now the Tourist Information Centre and its clock is known locally as “the clock that hanged MacPherson”. It was at Mortlach (now a part of Dufftown) that King Malcolm II defeated the Danes in 1010 in an epic battle.
Walking, cycling, golf and fishing activities are well catered for and the Dufftown Highland Games has been held annually for the last 150 years. The games are famous for the massed bands that attend the event.
James MacPherson was was an infamous outlaw condemned to death at Banff in 1700 for robbing the rich and giving it to the poor. The local inhabitants raised a petition for his reprieve but when the pardon was on it's way, MacPherson's arch enemy, Lord Braco, the Sheriff of Banff, put the clock forward a quarter of an hour to make sure MacPherson would hang. That hanging was the last capital sentence executed in Scotland under Heritable Jurisdiction. Sometime later the clock was removed from Banff and installed in Dufftown's tower.
“If Rome was built on seven hills,
Dufftown was built on seven stills.”
Highland Games or “Gatherings� were organised by Chiefs to test fitness, find the best bodyguards, identify runners to act as messengers, as well as musicians and dancers.
09 page nine
Duffus Castle stands on an elevated mound on what was once the north western shore of the Loch of Spynie. With a deep moat, parapet wall and drawbridge.
It was a typical Norman castle and the finest of its type in the north of Scotland.
The castle was built in 1140 by Freskin, Lord of Strathbrock, a Flemish Knight. The land was granted to him by King David I and one of the major landed fiefs granted to Anglo-Norman and Flemish immigrants.
The castle passed to the Cheyne family, supporters of the English king, Edward I, during his campaigns in Scotland, and was attacked and burnt down by the Scots in 1297 during the Wars of Independence.
It was rebuilt in stone in the fourteenth century with the wooden palisade around the bailey replaced by a stone curtain wall and a stone tower built on the motte.
Duffus is one of the oldest surviving strongholds in Scotland
Much of the castle is complete and is well preserved. For the modern visitor it’s a great opportunity to see one of the most impressive fourteenth century stone towers in Scotland.
tour details
TOUR 1 ELGIN - Royal Burgh and Cathedral City TOUR 2 PICT LAND - capital, beaches and wildlife Elgin | Duffus | Hopeman | Cummingston | Burghead | Findhorn | Forres
TOUR 3 SPEYSIDE - whisky and heritage trail Elgin | Rothes | Dufftown | Tomintoul | Archiestown | Carron | Aberlour | Craigellachie
TOUR 4 CULTIVATED - surf & turf, tartan and the skink Elgin | Llanbryde | Garmouth | PortGordon | Buckie | Portknockie | Cullen | Keith | Fochabers
Tradition is silent with regard to the time when the first colonies came into the north of Scotland from Scandinavia and Germany. We learn from Claudian, that the Saxons were in the Orkneys before the year 390, and the Picts in Thule, by which he means the north of Scotland. Tasous informs us, that about 937 the Norwegians, under the command of Sigind earl of Orkney, conquered Moray, where probably they built Elgin. At that period, or rather before it, the Picts occupied a Roman station on the Moray Firth called Ptorotan, which they named the Burgh. These and more ancient colonies of the same people, mingling with the British, impelled northwards by the invasions of the Belgae, Iberians, Romans and Saxons, peopled the province of Moray.
Baxters Highland Village The Baxters Highland Village offers a variety of speciality shops, stocked with a wide range of Baxters and Audrey Baxter range of food products, as well as wines and whiskies, speciality foods, clothing, cookware and gifts. A trip to Baxters wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of our restaurants, where a sample of delicious Scottish fayre is served, including Baxters famous soups, pancakes fresh from the griddle and home baked pastries, in a relaxed and friendly environment.