Monks, Ghosts & the Wolf - A Spooky Twilight Walk
With Dan & Elle Tyler
3 Walks available. Strictly 12 places per walk. 90 Minutes in length
Friday 23rd October - Elgin
Saturday 24th October - Elgin
Sunday 25th October - Elgin
Dan and Elle Tyler are the husband-and-wife team behind Airts & Pairts, both holding Scotland's STGA guiding accreditation. Between them, they bring more than fifteen years of guiding experience and a shared, genuine love of Scotland's stories, landscapes and people.
The name Airts & Pairts carries many meanings at once. An "airt" is an old Scots word for a compass point — to airt someone is to guide them, gently but surely, in the right direction. A "pairt," meanwhile, is both a corner of the land and, in Gaelic, the word for partnership and belonging. Put together, the name is a compass, a map of Scotland's hidden corners, and a nod to the partnership — between Dan and Elle, and between guide and guest — at the heart of everything they do.
Based in Dundee with strong Highland roots, Airts & Pairts has spent close to a decade welcoming guests from across the world — "from a' the airts and pairts of the world," as the old Scots saying goes. Dan and Elle don't just show guests Elgin's history; they invite them to stand right inside it, to feel the weight of a place that has been knocked down more than once and has always found its way back.
Monks, Ghosts & the Wolf — A Twilight Walk
As the light fades and the veil grows thin, Elgin becomes a different town. On this twilight walk, we lead you through the same closes and wynds that have witnessed nine centuries of fire, feud and fortune — but this time, we tell the stories the daylight tour leaves out.
Follow us to the Little Cross, once a place of public punishment, where a sharp tongue could earn you an iron collar and a whipping. Duck into the old closes where thirty families once lived cheek by jowl, and hear of the drouthy cobbler who spent years alone among the Cathedral's rubble. And when the wind picks up, we'll tell you of the night the Wolf of Badenoch came down from the hills, and the sky over Elgin turned the colour of fire.
Guising has deep roots in this part of the world — the old tradition of disguising oneself against the spirits abroad on Samhain night. We'd love for you to join us in that spirit: come in costume, and let's walk Elgin's history together, exactly as it should be told — after dark, in disguise, and with a shiver or two along the way.
Highlights
Thunderton House by twilight
St Giles and its cracked bell
Elgin's Closes & Ports
The Little Cross
Elgin Cathedral
Ghost stories, guising traditions & a few things best not said too loudly
Halloween Costumes warmly encouraged.
Suitability:
Our Town Walks are at a leisurely pace and are suitable for all age groups, though younger guests easily spooked may prefer the daytime version.
Easy - reasonable fitness level required:
Walking over paths and rough ground with some muddy patches and a few short slopes.
Equipment
Our famous Scottish weather has its reputation for a reason. Therefore, it is always good practise to pack an extra layer and a waterproof jacket or coat on top of your sunscreen and your sunglasses. You may need them all, and bring a torch, just in case.
The tour will keep you on your feet for at least 1.5 hours, and we highly recommend that you wear appropriate footwear and clothing for this outdoor experience.
Meeting point
Dandy Lion Statue (opp. 159 High Street | Elgin | IV30 1DS). What3Words: /// shell.daisy.degree or 57.648623, -3.3166820
5.00 pm, Friday 23rd October, Elgin
5.00 pm, Saturday 24th October, Elgin
5.00 pm, Sunday 25th October, Elgin