Quarry Wood – The Elginia Trail and Lunch at Johnstons

The walk

The Elginia Trail makes a loop through Quarry Wood from the Leggat car park, which charges £1 for up to an hour or £3 for the day, paid by RingGo. It climbs through pine, larch, beech and oak, past old quarries where sandstone was cut for local buildings. The loop reaches the quarry and viewpoint at Cutties Hillock, and there are wide views over the Moray Firth.

The trail is named after Elginia mirabilis, a plant-eating reptile with a spiked head whose fossils were found there. It lived about 250 million years ago, when this was desert. The Moray Way Association's guide to the trail notes a large boulder with an information panel at the site of an ancient henge.

You may see red squirrels and roe deer among the trees. Ticks are about, so check for them after your walk.

Afterwards

1. 14 min by car

   

   Weavers Coffee Shop, Johnstons of Elgin

   Lunch

   It's about 14 minutes' drive across Elgin to Johnstons of Elgin at Newmill, near the cathedral. Its Weavers Coffee Shop serves lunch every day from noon to 3pm: Cullen skink made with Moray smoked haddock, with homemade soda bread or oatcakes, as well as sandwiches, toasties and salads, and scones and cakes baked each day. The Mill Shop's clothes, blankets and throws are there to browse after lunch.