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Headland
Chanonry Point
Spit between Fortrose and Rosemarkie where bottlenose dolphins can often be seen from the shore. The lighthouse was first lit in 1846.
A mini guide to
The Black Isle & Easter Ross
A peninsula of Pictish stones, Cromarty and dolphin-watching, with whisky country to the north
Photos
1 / 7Welcome to the area
A peninsula of Pictish stones, Cromarty and dolphin-watching, with whisky country to the north
The Black Isle is a peninsula, not an island, between the Moray and Cromarty Firths, with Fortrose, Rosemarkie, Avoch and Cromarty as its main settlements. Chanonry Point, between Fortrose and Rosemarkie, is a place where bottlenose dolphins can often be seen from the shore. Groam House Museum in Rosemarkie holds Pictish carved stones, and Fortrose Cathedral is a medieval ruin.
Across the Cromarty Firth, Easter Ross has distilleries at Tain and Edderton, the Tarbat Discovery Centre at Portmahomack, and Pictish stones such as the Shandwick Stone. Dingwall and Strathpeffer are inland, and Rogie Falls is near Contin. The area is a short drive from Inverness.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Ruined cathedral
Fortrose Cathedral
Remains of the medieval cathedral of the diocese of Ross, in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.
Museum
Groam House Museum
Museum of Pictish and Celtic art in Rosemarkie, home to the Rosemarkie Stone and the George Bain Collection.
Museum
Cromarty Courthouse Museum
Category A listed 18th-century courthouse on Church Street, now Cromarty Museum, which keeps seasonal opening hours.
Directions Website Report a problem with Cromarty Courthouse Museum
Museum
Hugh Miller's Museum and Cottage
Home of the geologist and writer Hugh Miller in Cromarty, open as a geological museum.
Directions Report a problem with Hugh Miller's Museum and Cottage
Brewery
Black Isle Brewery
Organic brewery based at Munlochy on the Black Isle.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows The Black Isle & Easter Ross and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Watch dolphins on the tide
Dolphins are often visible off Chanonry Point on an incoming tide, and the parking lot can be busy in summer.
2
The lighthouse grounds are private
The Chanonry Point lighthouse grounds are private, so keep to the beach and path.
3
See the Pictish stones
Groam House Museum in Rosemarkie, Tarbat Discovery Centre at Portmahomack and the Shandwick Stone make a Pictish route.
4
Combine distilleries by car
Glenmorangie at Tain and Balblair at Edderton are close together. Check each distillery's website for tours and booking.
Tips from the Britlens editors
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Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- The Black Isle & Easter Ross (area photo): Vcarceler, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Chanonry Point: Shirehorse at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fortrose Cathedral: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Groam House Museum: Groam House Museum, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cromarty Courthouse Museum: Braveheart, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hugh Miller's Museum and Cottage: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Black Isle Brewery: Bill Harrison, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Rogie Falls: Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Highland Museum of Childhood: Nigel Thompson, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Fyrish Monument: Davidw57, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Glenmorangie Distillery: Braveheart, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Balblair Distillery: Dave Thompson, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Tarbat Discovery Centre: PeterK147, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Shandwick Stone: Wojsyl, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Inverness & Loch Ness: dave conner from Inverness, Scotland, CC BY 2.0, source
- Fort William, Glencoe & Ben Nevis: Viewfinder at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Isle of Skye: Portree & Dunvegan: Lauwz The Kiwistralian, CC0, source
- The Cairngorms: Aviemore & Grantown-on-Spey: dave conner, CC BY 2.0, source
- Oban, Argyll & the Mull ferry: Mike Hudson, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring the Scottish Highlands