Elgin Cathedral

Elgin Cathedral tickets: which one to buy

The ruins of Elgin Cathedral stand in the town of Elgin in Moray, in north-east Scotland, and they are managed by Historic Environment Scotland, with an admission fee. It is one of the most beautiful medieval ruins in Scotland, once known as the Lantern of the North. Elgin is about an hour's drive east of Inverness and on the railway line between Inverness and Aberdeen.

Visitors often combine Elgin Cathedral with the whisky distilleries of Speyside, such as Glenfiddich, Macallan and Glen Moray, and with Pluscarden Abbey, a working Benedictine monastery nearby. The site has a visitor centre with an exhibition, and visitors can climb one of the towers for views over the ruins and the town. The Biblical Garden, beside the cathedral, displays plants mentioned in the Bible. Historic Environment Scotland members enter free, and an Explorer Pass covers several sites in the region.

Visiting Elgin Cathedral: what to see

The cathedral was founded in 1224 as the seat of the Bishop of Moray, and it was built in the Gothic style, becoming one of the finest cathedrals in Scotland. In 1390, it was burned by Alexander Stewart, the Earl of Buchan, known as the Wolf of Badenoch, the son of King Robert II, after a dispute with the bishop. The cathedral was rebuilt, but after the Scottish Reformation in 1560, it was abandoned, its lead roof was removed, and in 1711 the central tower collapsed. Today, the ruins include the west front with its two towers and great doorway, the choir with its tall windows, and the octagonal chapter house, the best preserved in Scotland, with a vaulted roof supported by a central pillar.

The ruins hold carved stones, effigies and tombs, including the tomb of the bishops. A Pictish cross-slab, found nearby, is displayed on the site. The west towers can be climbed by a spiral stair, giving views of the ruins and the town. The chapter house's vaulted ceiling is decorated with carved bosses and heads. The choir's east wall has two rows of lancet windows and a rose window above. The ruins include the tomb of the first Earl of Huntly, with an effigy. The cathedral's precinct wall and a gate, the Panns Port, survive nearby. The visitor centre displays carved stones, fragments of decoration and a model of the cathedral as it once looked. Gravestones in the churchyard date from the seventeenth century onwards.

Elgin Cathedral opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open daily, with shorter hours in winter. The north-east of Scotland has a cool climate, with long days in summer and short days in winter. Summer is the best season for visiting the distilleries and the coast. The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival in spring and autumn brings events to the region. The ruins are atmospheric in misty weather. Allow about an hour for the cathedral and tower, and continue to a Speyside distillery or to Pluscarden Abbey. Pluscarden Abbey, about fifteen minutes' drive south-west, has monks who still sing the liturgy in Latin.