Monks, Goats and the Wolf: A Walk Through History.
With Dan & Elle Tyler
6 Walks available. Strictly 12 places per walk. 90 Minutes in length
Friday 23rd October - Elgin
Friday 23rd October - Elgin
Saturday 24th October - Elgin
Saturday 24th October - Elgin
Sunday 25th 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.
Elgin, the former cathedral city, is home to some of the finest buildings in the north — each one carrying its own layer of the town's story. Elgin Cathedral, now a picturesque ruin, was once known as "The Lantern of the North" and said to be Scotland's most beautiful cathedral.
On this walking tour, we take you back into the age of monks and bishops, through the night the Wolf of Badenoch paid Elgin his infamous "visit," and onward through the centuries: to a drouthy cobbler who single-handedly rescued a ruin, and the industrialisation that saw Johnstons of Elgin raise their woollen mill on the banks of the River Lossie.
Along the way, we pause. This is a town that has been knocked down more than once and has chosen, every time, to rebuild something finer than before — a ruined cathedral cleared stone by stone by one determined man, a filthy High Street transformed into a place of pride, a mill that has survived flood and fire and kept weaving regardless. Every close and cobblestone holds a small act of reflection: what was lost, what was kept, and what grew back stronger. We think this town has something to say about resilience, renewal, and the stories we choose to carry forward.
Note: All 10am Walks have free companion tickets for those who need them.
Highlights
Thunderton House
St Giles
Elgin's Closes & Ports
Elgin's Market Crosses
Elgin Cathedral
and a few hidden gems & happy places
Suitability:
Our Town Walks are leisurely and suitable for all age groups.
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.
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
10.00 am, Friday 23rd October, Elgin
2.00 pm, Friday 23rd October, Elgin
10.00 am, Saturday 24th October, Elgin
2.00 pm, Saturday 24th October, Elgin
10.00 am, Sunday 25th October, Elgin
2.00 pm, Sunday 25th October, Elgin