LOSSIEMOUTH

lossiemouth, a police burgh of elginshire, scotland. pop. (1901) 3904. it embraces the villages of lossiemouth, branderburgh and stotfield, at the mouth of the lossie, 51⁄2 m. n.n.e. of elgin, of which it is the port, by a branch line of the great north of scotland railway. the industries are boat-building and fishing. lossiemouth, or the old town, dates from 1700; branderburgh, farther north, grew with the harbour and began about 1830; stotfield is purely modern and contiguous to the splendid golf-course. the cliffs at covesea, 2 m. w., contain caves of curious shape. sir robert gordon of gordonstown used one as a stable in the rebellion of 1745; weapons of prehistoric man were found in another, and the roof of a third is carved with ornaments and emblems of early celtic art. kinneddar castle in the parish of drainie--in which lossiemouth is situated--was a seat of the bishops of moray, and old duffus castle, 21⁄2 m. s.w., was built in the reign of david ii. the estate of gordonstown, close by, was founded by sir robert gordon (1580-1656), historian of the sutherland family, and grandfather of the baronet who, because of his inventions and scientific attainments, was known locally as "sir robert the warlock" (1647-1704). nearly midway between lossiemouth and elgin stand the massive ruins of the palace of spynie, formerly a fortified residence of the bishops of moray. "davie's tower," 60 ft. high with walls 9 ft. thick, was built by bishop david stewart about 1470. the adjacent loch is a favourite breeding-place for the sea-birds, which resort to the coast of elginshire in enormous numbers. a mile s.e. of the lake lies pitgaveny, one of the reputed scenes of the murder of king duncan by macbeth.