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The Great Britain Guide

Castles · Scottish Highlands

Elgin, Moray

Also known as: Elgin, Eilginn

In or near Longmorn.

♿ Wheelchair: limited

Elgin ( EL-ghin; Scots: Ailgin; Scottish Gaelic: Eilginn [ˈel(e)kʲɪɲ]) is a historic town (former cathedral city) and formerly a royal burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial

His master's drum - High Street sculpture, Elgin - geograph.org.uk - 5348745

Des Colhoun — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1.5 h–3 h
Nearest railway station
Elgin · 0.7 km
  • Family-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Elgin Castle in Moray, the nearest railway station is Elgin, located 0.7 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is IV30 1BW. Please note that wheelchair accessibility is limited.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Elgin ( EL-ghin; Scots: Ailgin; Scottish Gaelic: Eilginn [ˈel(e)kʲɪɲ]) is a historic town (former cathedral city) and formerly a royal burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the floodplain where the town of Birnie is. There, the church of Birnie Kirk was built in 1140 and still serves the community. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in AD 1190. It was created a royal burgh in the 12th century by King David I of Scotland, and by that time had a castle on top of the present-day Lady Hill to the west of the town. The origin of the name Elgin is likely to be Celtic. It may derive from 'Aille' literally signifying beauty, but in topography a beautiful place or valley. Another possibility is 'ealg', meaning both 'Ireland' and 'worthy'. The termination 'gin' or 'in' are Celtic endings signifying little or diminutive forms, hence Elgin could mean beautiful place, worthy place or little Ireland.

Photo gallery

360° viewimagery from 2019

Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0

From the Wikipedia article

Elgin ( EL-ghin; Scots: Ailgin; Scottish Gaelic: Eilginn [ˈel(e)kʲɪɲ]) is a historic town (former cathedral city) and formerly a royal burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the floodplain where the town of Birnie is. There, the church of Birnie Kirk was built in 1140 and still serves the community. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in AD 1190. It was created a royal burgh in the 12th century by King David I of Scotland, and by that time had a castle on top of the present-day Lady Hill to the west of the town. The origin of the name Elgin is likely to be Celtic. It may derive from 'Aille' literally signifying beauty, but in topography a beautiful place or valley. Another possibility is 'ealg', meaning both 'Ireland' and 'worthy'. The termination 'gin' or 'in' are Celtic endings signifying little or diminutive forms, hence Elgin could mean beautiful place, worthy place or little Ireland.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

, found in the churchyard of St Giles' Church in 1823]] The discovery of the Elgin Pillar, a 9th-century class II Pictish stone, under the High Street in 1823 suggests there may have been an Early Christian presence in the area of the later market, but there is no further evidence of activity before Elgin was created a Royal Burgh in the 12th century. In August 1040, MacBeth's army defeated and killed Duncan I at Bothganowan (Pitgaveny), near Elgin. Elgin is first recorded in a charter of David I in 1151 in which he granted an annuity to the Priory of Urquhart. David had made Elgin a royal burgh around 1130, after his defeat of Óengus of Moray. During David's reign, the castle was…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
57.6486, -3.3153
District
Moray
Postcode
IV30 1BW
Parliamentary constituency
Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey
Nearest railway station
Elgin0.7 km

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

OS Flush Bracket G3880 - Elgin, St. Giles Centre - geograph.org.uk - 6794929📷 5

Historic churches · Scottish Highlands

St Giles' Church of Scotland, High Street, Elgin

St Giles' Church of Scotland, High Street, Elgin — category A listed building-listed church in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.

Free
St Giles Kirk, Elgin - geograph.org.uk - 7891079📷 3

Memorials & monuments · Scottish Highlands

Elgin War Memorial

Elgin War Memorial — a memorial in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
Muckle Cross📷 4

Memorials & monuments · Scottish Highlands

Muckle Cross

Muckle Cross is a memorial in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕elginmuseum.org.uk
St Giles Kirk, Elgin - geograph.org.uk - 7891079📷 5

Memorials & monuments · Scottish Highlands

War Memorial, High Street, Elgin

War Memorial, High Street, Elgin — category C listed building-listed memorial in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
Elgin War Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 3237446📷 3

Public art & sculpture · Scottish Highlands

Elgin landmarks

Elgin landmarks — a public art in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
'Dandy Lion' - geograph.org.uk - 7662075📷 3

Public art & sculpture · Scottish Highlands

Dandy Lion

Dandy Lion — a public art in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.

Free🐕

Where to eat & stay near Elgin, Moray

Places to stay

Grassy footpath up the Lady Hill - geograph.org.uk - 2485683📷 5

Hotels · Scottish Highlands

Mansion House Hotel & Country Club

Mansion House Hotel & Country Club — a hotel in scotland highlands.

mansionhousehotel.co.uk
River Lossie from the camp site - geograph.org.uk - 7432735📷 5

Caravan parks · Scottish Highlands

Riverside Caravan Park Elgin

Riverside Caravan Park Elgin — a caravan park in scotland highlands.

Freeriversidecaravanparkelgin.co.uk
Poppies on the Canal Bank at Lossiemouth - geograph.org.uk - 1909135📷 5

Caravan parks · Scottish Highlands

Lossiemouth Caravan Park

Lossiemouth Caravan Park — a caravan park in scotland highlands.

Lossiemouth - Silver Sands Holiday Park - geograph.org.uk - 8112086📷 5

Caravan parks · Scottish Highlands

Silver Sands Leisure Park

Silver Sands Leisure Park — a caravan park in scotland highlands.

silver-sands.co.uk
No railway - geograph.org.uk - 3630588📷 5

Caravan parks · Scottish Highlands

North Alves Holiday Park

North Alves Holiday Park — a caravan park in scotland highlands.

Freenorth-alves-holiday-park.co.uk
West Beach, Hopeman - geograph.org.uk - 6958434📷 5

Caravan parks · Scottish Highlands

Station Caravan Park

Station Caravan Park — a caravan park in scotland highlands.

Places to eat & drink

Commercial Inn on Mid Street - geograph.org.uk - 3625987📷 5

Historic pubs · Scottish Highlands

Seafield Arms Hotel, 84, 86 Mid Street, Keith

Seafield Arms Hotel, 84, 86 Mid Street, Keith in Scotland Highlands, United Kingdom.

More castles in this region

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Castles · Scottish Highlands

Aberdeen Castle

Aberdeen Castle — castle in Aberdeen City, Scotland, UK.

👶breakneckcomedy.co.uk
Road to Braemar - geograph.org.uk - 94850📷 3

Castles · Scottish Highlands

Abergairn Castle

Abergairn Castle — castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.

👶
Aberscross Castle📷 2

Castles · Scottish Highlands

Aberscross Castle

Aberscross Castle — castle near Dornoch, Highland, Scotland, UK, ruinous by the 17th century.

👶
Aboyne Castle📷 3

Castles · Scottish Highlands

Aboyne Castle

Aboyne Castle — castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.

👶scotland.org.uk

Frequently asked questions

Where is Elgin, Moray?
Elgin, Moray is in the Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom (postcode IV30 1BW).
What is Elgin, Moray?
Elgin ( EL-ghin; Scots: Ailgin; Scottish Gaelic: Eilginn [ˈel(e)kʲɪɲ]) is a historic town (former cathedral city) and formerly a royal burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial
How do I get to Elgin, Moray?
The nearest railway station is Elgin, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can use postcode IV30 1BW.
Does Elgin, Moray charge admission?
Elgin, Moray typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
How do I get to Elgin, Moray?
The nearest railway station is Elgin, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode IV30 1BW.