Heritage partnership members gather for start of Elgin project

Representatives behind the
Representatives behind the Elgin heritage project gather at Ladyhill

PROJECT PARTNERS BEHIND plans to create Elgin’s major ‘Castle to Cathedral to Cashmere’ heritage project have gathered as the first physical steps to its creation began this week.

Heritage Lottery funding will help the project become a reality after four years on the drawing board from when it was first announced in the grounds of Elgin Cathedral.

The first stage of the project being marked this week will see an all-abilities pathway being created to the summit of Ladyhill. Representatives from the project partners – who include Moray Council, the Elgin Fund, the Moray Society, the Elgin BID and Johnstons of Elgin – visited the site on Tuesday to see for themselves work progress on the new 230 metre path.

It is expected to be completed by late summer and will provide easier access to the summit of Ladyhill and the site of one of Elgin’s best known landmarks, the monument to the 5th Duke of Gordon.

The summit is also the site of the ruins of Elgin Castle, which will be the starting point for the heritage trail linking many of Elgin’s architectural and historic assets. Key locations along the route will include Elgin Cathedral and the long-established Johnstons woollen mill.

At a cost of £25,000 the new route on the north side of the hill will provide an alternative to the steep and uneven path currently existing on the south face.  Chairman of the project, Jim Royan, said that Elgin held a “unique place” in Scotland’s history that dated back to the 10th century.

He added: “As well as matters of historic significance the heritage route will focus on the tales of everyday Elgin folk – it is time to celebrate our past and use that legacy to place Elgin and Moray as a genuinely compelling visitor destination.”

Work on the path, which is being undertaken by Alistair Young and Sons, is expected to be completed by September.