iKnow Scotland
- Aviemore
- Fort William
- Glen Coe
- Grantown-on-Spey
- Inverness
- Around Inverness
- Loch Ness
- North East Highlands
- North West Highlands
Around Inverness Accommodation
Cromarty has a lot of attractions for a small place
High Miller's Birthplace in Cromarty
Next door is the Hugh Miller Exhibition centre
The Old Courthouses houses Cromarty's musuem
Cromarty's famous Stevenson Lighthouse
Lots of grand sandstone architecture in Cromarty
Take dolphin watching boat trips from Cromarty
Pubs and cafes in Cromarty's centreCromarty Black Isle Moray Firth Scotland
On the north eastern tip of the Black Isle is Cromarty, the main town on the Black Isle. It's well worth the drive through the Black Isle farmland with its attractive centre of traditional cottages and red sandstone houses. It's a friendly town with a long history and was a Royal Burgh from the 4th century. The town has retained a lot of character with its red sandstone buildings and traditional cottages which makes it a pleasant place to while away the time.
There's plenty to see in Cromarty including museums and exhibitions, craft shops, general store and post office. Wildlife and dolphin watching boat trips also run from Cromarty harbour. It's also a nice quiet base but convenient to the main roads for exploring more of the Scottish Highlands.
Mueums in Cromarty Black Isle
For a small town there's a lot to see. The town has a small museum housed in the old Courthouse on Church Street. This uses audiovisual presentations and animated figures to tell the story of the town. You can also take the audio-tour of the town which helps make sense of all the intriguing looking buildings around. The museum provides you with a map and audio-handset. You can check out the audio tour online too. Check the link right. Cromarty Courthouse Museum, Church Street, Cromarty IV11 8XA. Phone: 01381 600418. Email: info@cromarty-courthouse.org.uk. Open Apr-Oct, 7 days a week, 10am-5pm.
One of Cromarty's most famous residents is Hugh Miller who earned his living as a stonemason but is better known as a self-taught geologist, author, folklorist and Free Church campaigner. His birthplace, a pretty whitewashed 18th century thatched cottage - the only one left in Cromarty, has been restored to show what life would have been like.
In the Georgian villa next door is the Hugh Miller Museum that contains six rooms with exhibits and a photograph exhibition of Hugh Miller's life and works. You can grab a coffee in the reading room. Open daily 31 March-30 Sep, 12.30am-4.30pm; 1-31 Oct, Sun-Wed 12.30pm-4.30am.
Hugh Miller's collection of over 6,000 geological specimens formed the foundation of the Scottish national collection housed in the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh.
Cromarty Lighthouse - Stevensons' Lighthouses
The Cromarty Lighthouse is another of the plethora of Stevenson Lighthouses and stands inland alongside a nice grassy area with walks and views over the Sutors of Cromarty, the twin headlands flanking the entrance to the Cromarty Firth. The northern part of the Black Isle stretching from Cromarty has some sandy and shingle beaches lining the Cromarty Firth.
Today the 700 year old lighthouse keeper's cottage is a field station for the Zoology Department of the University of Abderdeen.
Dolphin Watching Boat Trips and Cromarty Ferry
Ecoventures at The Dolphin Centre in Cromarty offer boat trips for dolphin and wildlife spotting. They're registered with the Dolphin Space Programme and abide by a code of conduct in order to reduce any negative impacts of boat trips on the dolphins themselves. A two hour Wildlife Watch boat trip gives you a chance to see bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoise, common and grey seals and sometimes minke whales in the Moray Firth.
EcoVentures, Harbour Workshop, Victoria Place, Cromarty IV11 8YE. Tel: 01381 600 323. Email: info@ecoventures.co.uk
The Cromarty Ferry still runs regularly over to Nigg between May and October, 8am-6.15pm. Although it is Scotland's smallest ferry it can take two cars at a time and 50 passengers. Evening cruises are also run on Wednesday evenings lasting for one and a half house. You need to book your place in advance.
Cromarty Ferry: Mr John Henderson, Udale Farm, Poyntzfield, By Dingwall IV7 8LY. Tel: 01381 610269. Mobile: 07768 653674. Fax: 01381 610408. Email: info@cromarty-ferry.co.uk.
Click Search
