The Atlas Obscura Guide To Elgin

2 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Elgin, Scotland

Updated September 12, 2022

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Unusual Attractions in Elgin

The Dandy Lion in all its glory.

Elgin, Scotland

Dandy Lion

A baffling beast so absurd a town councilman called it "intellectual vomit in technicolor."

From inside the defensive walls.

Elgin, Scotland

Duffus Castle

Once considered one of the country's finest motte and bailey castles.

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One of the main cave entrances

Duffus, Scotland

Sculptor's Cave

A beachside cave filled with Bronze Age metalwork, pottery, and human remains.

5 miles from Elgin

The Burning of the Clavie

Burghead, Scotland

The Burning of the Clavie

Even after the church tried to wipe the practice out, this pagan festival lives on each year in a small Scottish village.

7 miles from Elgin

Forres, Scotland

Forres Witches Stone

A reminder of the gruesome punishments delivered to those who were found guilty during Scotland's witchcraft trials.

10 miles from Elgin

Forres, Scotland

The House of Automata

A curious collection of mechanical moving figures.

11 miles from Elgin

Bow Fiddle Rock

Portknockie, Scotland

Bow Fiddle Rock

Named for its similarity to the tip of a violin's bow, this striking formation was created by millions of years of erosion.

17 miles from Elgin

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