Attractions - the surrounding area

A short tour of the surrounding area
(just click on an image to see the bigger picture)

Cromarty Firth
Invergordon is set on the edge of the Cromarty Firth, an area of great natural beauty and teeming with wild-life. The many habitats in the Firth support a variety of marine life and wild birds, including bottlenose dolphins, one of only two known populations in the British Isles.

There are important food sources for large numbers of wintering and migrating water-birds (swans, geese, ducks and waders) and with adjacent areas in the Moray Firth, it is the most northerly major wintering area for wildfowl and waders in Europe.

Britain in Bloom

Using Invergordon as your base, there are many places of interest worth visiting in the surrounding area. To the west, some three miles away, is Alness, a town which takes great pride in its appearance. Very recently it won the Britain in Bloom and Beautiful Scotland in Bloom competitions. Apart from enjoying the facilities of the High Street, there are pleasant walks to be had along the banks of the River Averon.

Overlooking Alness is the monument on Fyrish Hill - a replica of a gateway to a town in India captured by a local General in 1781. Its construction provided work at a time of local unemployment in the area. The car park at the base of the hill is an ideal starting point, and a climb to the top, to enjoy the wonderful panoramic views, and back takes about 2½ hours.

Excellent Viewpoint
To the north is the Dornoch Firth and Bonar Bridge. A pleasant way of reaching this area is via Alness, taking the A836 road to Bonar Bridge. Just before making the descent to Fearn Lodge there is an excellent viewpoint from which the Firth can be seen together with the mountains of Sutherland to the north.

Fine Single Malt

To the north-east is Tain and the Seaboard villages of Balintore and Portmahomack on the Fearn Peninsula. Just outside Tain is the Glenmorangie Distillery, makers of some of the finest single malt whiskies in the world. The visitor centre is open every weekday and guided tours available.

Tain claims to be Scotland's oldest Royal Burgh with a charter that dates back to 1066. As the birthplace of St. Duthac, the town was an important destination for pilgrims. St. Duthac's chapel and surrounding buildings are part of the Tain through Time guided tour which is well worth a visit.

Coastal Walks
Balintore is one of the driest and sunniest places in Britain, and offers pleasant walks along the foreshore. Boats are available in the harbour for charter which can be used for sea angling. Portmahomack, on the other side of the Fearn Peninsula, attracts people who enjoy sailing and sailboarding. There are also wonderful coastal walks to Tarbet Ness where the lighthouse is the second highest in Britain.

The Black Isle
Travelling south-west from Invergordon, along the edge of the Firth, you reach the Cromarty Bridge. Just before the Ardullie interchange and the Bridge there is a lay-by giving views of the local seal colony. The Black Isle, reached by crossing the Bridge at Ardullie, has many places of interest.

At Cromarty, The Courthouse, Parish Church and Hugh Miller's Cottage are just some of the places to visit in this historic and picturesque coastal village. It is also excellent walking territory, with a fine walk up onto the south Sutor giving excellent views across the Firth to the mountains.

History of the Picts
Some 12 miles (19km) from Cromarty is Rosemarkie, a town with wonderful beaches and excellent coastal walks with views across the Moray Firth. The town also houses the Groam House Museum which provides a history of the Picts, the ancient inhabitants of the north. To the north of the town is a lovely inland walk up Fairy Glen on the banks of the local river.

Dolphin Viewpoint
At nearby Fortrose is the 14th century Cathedral, and between Rosemarkie and Fortrose is Chanonry Point, site of another lighthouse, and a viewpoint of the local Dolphin population.

Near Munlochy is the Black Isle Wildlife and Country Park, an ideal entertainment for all the family.

South-west from Invergordon is Dingwall which houses the Council's administrative headquarters of Ross and Cromarty. An established market town, there is a well-documented Heritage Trail which takes about 1½ hours to complete. Continuing on your route south-west brings you to Muir of Ord, home of the Glen Ord Distillery. Makers of an excellent 12 year old Single Malt, they have a visitor centre open most of the year and guided tours are available.

Craft Shop
At nearby Beauly are the ruins of the old Priory, and on the outskirts of this attractive town is the Made in Scotland Craft Shop. This may provide an opportunity to purchase a gift not available elsewhere.

Strathpeffer is an old Spa town and the healing waters can still be tasted in the town centre. There is also the Highland Museum of Childhood in the old station building. This is open from March to October and, with a tearoom next door, makes an interesting afternoon visit. Just north-west of Strathpeffer are the spectacular Falls of Rogie, and a walk down into the ravine and across the suspension bridge can be a perfect way to round off the day.

This is just a taste of the many places you can visit in a half-day from Invergordon. Most of the locations mentioned have a visitors guide leaflet with more information and it is certain that the warm welcome you have received in Invergordon will be repeated in any of the places you choose to visit in the area.

Recommended local visits

Itinerary 1 - total 4 hours
Invergordon to Strathpeffer: 40 minutes
Strathpeffer visit: 1 hour
Strathpeffer to Falls of Rogie: 15 minutes
Falls of Rogie visit:1 hour
Falls to Invergordon: 55 minutes

Itinerary 2 - total 3 hours
Invergordon to Tain: 20 minutes
Tain visit: 1 hour
Tain to Glen Morangie: 5 minutes
Distillery visit: 1 hour
Tain to Invergordon 20 minutes

Itinerary 3 - total 5½ hours
Invergordon to Cromarty: 45 minutes
Cromarty visit: 2 hours
Cromarty to Munlochy: 45 minutes
Black Isle Wildlife Park visit: 1½ hours
Munlochy to Invergordon: 30 minutes

    

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