Black Isle, Mid And Easter Ross Area

Overview

The Black Isle is a green, quiet peninsula north of Inverness that is a delight to explore.

Naturalists will love the Black Isle, with its bird reserves at Munlochy Bay and Udale Bay, and its famous dolphins, which can be viewed on cruises from Cromarty or from the shore at North Kessock and Fortrose. The North Kessock Tourist Information Centre, just over the bridge from Inverness, houses the Dolphins and Seals of the Moray Firth Visitors' Centre which enables you to enjoy these magical mammals without disturbing them.

Travelling east towards Cromarty, you pass through a chain of delightful villages and small harbours. Attractions en route include Avoch Heritage Centre, the ruins of Fortrose Cathedral, and Groam House Museum in Rosemarkie with its remarkable collection of Pictish artefacts. Meanwhile, in the pretty village of Cromarty itself, visit Hugh Miller's Cottage - home of the godfather of geology.

West of the A9, the Black Isle merges into the gentle hills of Mid-Ross, with a series of villages including Muir of Ord, home to Glen Ord Distillery. Explore the hills of Strathconon or walk to the Falls of Rogie, drop in to the attractive market town of Dingwall and visit the Victorian spa village of Strathpeffer.

Between Dingwall and the Dornoch Firth is the rich farmland of Easter Ross. Alness was the 2002 Gold Award winner of the Britain in Bloom 'small town' category. On the coast, Invergordon is a port of call for international cruise liners, and a service base for the oil rigs that rising high above the waters of the Cromarty Firth.

Between Invergordon and Tain are many historic sites found around pretty fishing villages such as Nigg, Balintore, Shandwick and Hilton, linked by the 'Pictish Trail'. Tain lays claim to being Scotland's oldest royal burgh with a charter dating from 1066. The local architecture reflects the town's heritage - in particular in the atmospheric St Duthac's Chapel, the Collegiate Church and the town centre Tolbooth. The world-famous Glenmorangie Distillery and Visitor Centre is on the northern edge of the town.