Ross and Cromarty

Scotland > Highland Counties > Ross and Cromarty

One of the most beautiful of Scotland's old counties - now part of the Highland Council area. Ross and Cromarty, otherwise known as Ross-shire stretches from Tarbat Ness in the east to Applecross in the west. To the north lies Sutherland and to the south, Inverness-shire.

Easter Ross, where the old county town of Dingwall lies, is a mix of high quality, low lying agricultural land and some industrial towns such as Invergordon, Alness and Evanton. It also includes the "Black Isle" a very fertile "peninsula" accessed by the Kessock Bridge from Inverness, or via its western end by way of Beauly, Muir of Ord or Conon Bridge.

The Black Isle is also a popular holiday destination, especially Fortrose with its golf course protruding into the Inverness Firth and Rosemarkie. The ancient town of Cromarty sits at its north east corner overlooking Nigg and the Tarbat Peninsula which stretches north east through the old fishing villages of Balintore and Portmahomack to the second tallest lighthouse in the UK at Tarbat Ness.

Ross-shire traverses the country from the North Sea across to the Minch and the Inner Hebrides. The interior of the county is mainly mountainous which gives rise to some spectacular scenery and landscapes. Glen Shiel, on the Invergarry to Kyle of Lochalsh road, sits at the bottom of the "Five Sisters of Kintail", a quintet of peaks overlooking the mountain of Rattigan and the road to Glenelg with its superb Pictish brochs and tumbling rivers. Glenelg also has its own seasonal vehicle ferry down by the old ruined Georgian barracks of Bernera.

The main crossing to Skye (which, incidentally, is part of old Inverness-shire) is across the new Bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh - tolls are paid but due to be abolished, not before time.

All along this coast road, the views are superb and not surprisingly, this area of Scotland is very popular with visitors. The little village of Plockton lies just north of Kyle. This is where the TV series "Hamish MacBeth" was filmed.

The peninsula of Applecross to the west of Kishorn and Shieldaig is one of the most remote parts of Scotland and north of Loch Torridon lie Gairloch, Melvaig, Poolewe (with Inverewe Gardens), Aultbea and Laide. Stunning is the only word to use about this scenic splendour.

Further north past the "secret" island of Gruinard where anthrax experiments were undertaken during the second world war the coast road goes slightly inland before heading north to the fishing village and ferry port of Ullapool. This is where the main ferries to Stornoway are to be found.

To the north and then west lies the region of Coigach and the road past the stupendous Stac Polly to the village of Achiltibuie which overlooks the beautiful vista of the Summer Isles. There can be no finer view than looking across from the hills around Achiltibuie to a sunset over the Summer Isles - there just cannot be!

150 to 200 years ago, the glens in Ross-shire were home for many thousands of people but for many reasons, collectively known as the "clearances" the glens were emptied and the people driven to either the coast of to lands far away - a sad story and one that should be learned about. Strath Carron near Ardgay has a story all of its own as the windows of Croick Church, even to this day, still relate.

In essence, Ross and Cromarty, like its neighbour to the north, Sutherland, has a sad past in complete contrast to the pleasure enjoyed by millions of visitors every year.