Elgin Cathedral is known as the 'Lantern of the North', and is one of Scotland's grandest medieval buildings

Elgin is the largest town along the Moray coast, sitting inland from pretty coastal villages including Hopeman, Lossiemouth and Covesea. Located in the Speyside whisky region, it is within easy travelling distance of several distilleries, and the town itself has museums, architecture and historical sites to visit.

Glenmoral, Linkwood and Miltonduff distilleries are all within a stone’s throw of Elgin, and there are many more within a 15-mile radius. The Speyside whiskies are known for their clean, crisp nature, all using waters from the sparkling Spey River that runs north through Moray and into the Moray Firth.

Where the Spey reaches the Firth in Spey Bay, just 13 miles from Elgin, the famous Moray Firth bottlenose dolphins come so close to land that they can be seen leaping from the sea right from the shore. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation centre at Spey Bay makes a great place to learn more about these iconic animals.

Along the coast to the west of Elgin is Cummingston, where sandstone cliffs and sea stacks have been sculpted from the coast by the force of the sea. This is a popular area for climbers, but even if you’re keeping your feet firmly on the ground, is a fascinating site to visit.

In Elgin itself, visitors will find museums, shops and amenities. Elgin Cathedral, ruined but well preserved, is an impressive structure that was once known as ‘Lantern of the North’. A three-acre Biblical Garden is open during summer and free to enter, and provides a welcome escape from busy streets. A short distance from Elgin lie PLuscarden Abbey and Duffus Castle, both interesting historical sites.

Each January, a truly unique event takes place at Burghead, 8 miles from Elgin on the coast. ‘The Burning of the Clavie’, where a tar-filled cask is carried through the village and used to light a huge bonfire on the headland. When the tar-filled cask breaks open, residents would traditionally take a burning piece with which to light their hearth.

A mysterious black cat named the ‘Kellas Cat’ was named after the village of Kellas, near Elgin, where it was first discovered. It was once believed that this was a mythical big cat, but examination revealed that it is a melanistic hybrid between the Scottish wildcat and domestic cats. A carved PIctish stone at Golspie of a cat standing atop a salmon is thought to depict a Kellas Cat, in reference to observations of it hunting salmon while swimming in a river. Keep your eyes peeled when you visit!

Moray offers abundant whisky distilleries, historical sites and attractive coastal villages, and at its centre, Elgin can be reached from across the area. Its grand cathedral draws many to visit, and a short drive will take you to a spectacular coastline where wildlife can be seen in abundance.