Events Calendar
**SOLD OUT**
Moray Walking Festival: Geology Walk in Quarry Wood
The Victorian Elgin geological controversy, a 100 million year mystery!
Sunday 15th June 2025, 1300 – 1700
SOLD OUT
Join Elgin Museum Geology Group Volunteer Dave Longstaff on a 2.5 – 3.5 hour walk in Quarry Wood. We’ll visit some abandoned sandstone quarries looking at the geology and discussing some controversies which confounded Victorian geologists 150 years ago.
Meeting at the car park at Leggat Quarry, we’ll walk to Rosebrae and Cutties Hillock Quarries. This will involve a round walk of about 3 km which includes a gentle 0.5 km uphill walk to almost the top of Quarry Wood but following good paths.
In Cutties Hillock Quarry around 150 years ago fossil reptiles were found only a few feet above rock layers where fossil fish scales occurred, were the rocks of the same age? This was a question which interested many Victorian geologists and drew scientists from all over the U.K to Quarry Wood. A clue can be found in Rosebrae Quarry where a gap in the geological record can be examined, a 100 million year geological time gap, a cranny where your finger can span 100 million years!
Near to Cutties Hillock Quarry we can also see evidence from the last ice-age, grooves in small exposures of rocks created by the last ice sheets to cover Moray, glacial striae to those who remember school geography lessons!
NOTES:
- Please wear appropriate footwear for walking on rough tracks / trails: stout boots are recommended, walking pole(s) if normally used
- Bracken growing in woodland areas so ticks may pose a risk, please dress appropriately: Layered clothing appropriate for variable weather conditions, waterproof outerwear, hat & gloves (or sun hat if appropriate)
- You may wish to bring: water, hand lens, binoculars, camera, whistle, sunscreen
- No dogs allowed
- Car parking charges apply: https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/quarry-wood
THIS EVENT HAS NOW SOLD OUT!
SOLD OUT!
Moray Walking Festival: Hopeman: Fossil dunes and trackways
Saturday 21st June 2025, 1000 – 1630
**SOLD OUT**
Join Elgin Museum Geology Group Volunteer Dave Longstaff on this full day event to examine features of the late Permian Hopeman Sandstone Formation, including fossilised dunes and animal trackways.
Starting at the Hopeman beach huts, we will see relicts of aeolian barchan and possible star dunes before examining a stretch of coastline that shows small faults, a range of soft sediment deformation features, fluvial and lacustrine sandstones, abandoned millstones and quarries, trace fossils and other sedimentary features.
After lunch in Cove Bay (NJ 1594 7011) around low tide of 14:49 we will look at a well-studied fault zone and post-glacial caves. We will then go to Clashach Quarry to examine fossilised reptile footprints and glacial features before descending to the coast via a short path to visit an old sandstone quarry (1781), the old Clashach port, Jock Muldoon’s Cave and see some beautifully displayed sandstone cross-bedding and relicts of quarrying.
When the excursion finishes, we will return to the beach huts via the coastal path; the expected time back at cars is 1600-1630.
NOTES:
-
- Please wear appropriate footwear for walking on rough tracks / trails: stout boots are recommended, walking pole(s) if normally used
- Please wear / bring layered clothing appropriate for variable weather conditions, waterproof outerwear, hat & gloves (or sun hat if appropriate)
- You may wish to bring: packed lunch and other snacks, water, hand lens, binoculars, camera, whistle, sunscreen
- No dogs allowed
THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT!
Friday 15th August 2025
6.30pm – 10pm (Doors open 6.15pm)
@ Elgin Ex-Servicemens Club
Adults £5 / Moray Society members £4
Join us at our fundraising quiz for a fun night that will test your general (and local) knowledge! Alongside the quiz, we’ll also have a raffle. Snacks will be provided, and drinks can be purchased at the venue.
Suitable for over-16s only. Come on your own or bring a group of friends & family!
All proceeds go towards our Building Redevelopment project to help us enhance and improve Elgin Museum and make it a museum fit for the future.
PLEASE NOTE: the quiz will be held at the Ex-Servicemens Club, 9 High Street, Elgin