Black Isle, Scotland

(Above image is a capture of a boat trip in Cromarty Harbour.)

This evening, I am posting information on the Black Isle which is located a short distance north of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.

The name is a misnomer because the piece of land referred to is a peninsula which lies between two stretches of water, the Cromarty Firth and Moray Firth.( Firth is a Scottish term meaning bay or estuary.) It is believed that the description ‘black’ derives from the fact that snow rarely settles leaving the land surface black when the surrounding is covered in white snow.

Avoch Bay on east coast.

 
Barley growing (for the whisky industry) and forestry are two important rural industries.

A circular tour around the 'island' can be completed in one day with sites and activities including:

• A talented community of artists and craftspeople.
• Fortrose Golf links near Chanonry Point.
• Possibility of witnessing cavorting dolphins near the lighthouse at Chanonry Point.

• The Black Isle Brewery where tours are available.

• Dolphin and wildlife boat trips from Avoch and Cromarty.
• The quaint and historic village of Cromarty located on the northern tip.
• Views of oil rigs moored in the Cromarty Firth on west side of the 'island'. The oil rigs are moored, not drilling for oil.

 Hugh Miller's Cottage at Cromarty. (Hugh Miller was a self-taught Scottish geologist and writer, folklorist and evangelical Christian who lived during the first half of the 19th century.)

 View west during Autumn/Fall with moored oil rigs in the Cromarty Firth.

 Cromarty Firth with Black Isle to right.

© Nigel P Cole/Catswhiskerstours Limited