Elgin Cathedral in Moray

You're standing at Elgin Cathedral, or what's left of it. People once called this church the Lantern of the North. Start with the west front and its two sturdy towers. They're over twenty-seven metres tall and date from the thirteenth century. Back then they were topped with wooden spires covered in lead. Now look at the great doorway between them. The stone is carved with branches, vines, acorns and oak leaves. Above it are three coats of arms: the bishopric of Moray, the royal arms of Scotland, and Bishop Columba Dunbar.