A fossil hunter, folklorist, man of faith, stonemason, geologist, editor, writer and social justice campaigner, find out why Hugh Miller is one of the great Scots of the 19th century – and about his links with Elgin Museum.

Hugh Miller’s quests and writings have left a huge legacy of knowledge, but as two adjacent buildings in Cromarty testify, he came from ordinary beginnings. As the National Trust for Scotland, custodians of Hugh Miller’s Cottage, gears up to celebrate Hugh Miller’s 225th birthday in 2027, James will be sharing the life and legacy of Hugh Miller and demonstrate why he has earned the title of “the David Attenborough of his day”.

James Ryan is the supervisor at Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage and Museum where his role involves working with the collection, organising the museum’s popular community events (including the annual Big Birthday Weekend), and leading walking tours and science club sessions. Both during and outside work, James can often be found on the beach searching for fossils just like Hugh Miller did almost 200 years before. At his last count James is at around 120 fossils: a far cry from Hugh Miller’s 6,000+ collection.

In person talk in Elgin Museum Side Hall. Doors open at 6.45pm