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Small boats moored inside the sandstone walls of Fortrose Harbour on calm water, the town on green slopes behind.
The Black Isle

Fortrose Harbour

A small sandstone harbour built by Thomas Telford in 1817, now full of the dinghies and yachts of the Chanonry Sailing Club.

Welcome

Below the old cathedral town of Fortrose, a small harbour of warm red sandstone curls out into the Moray Firth.

It was built by Thomas Telford and finished in October 1817, at a cost of four thousand pounds, and for many years it was the busiest place in town, when nearly everyone and everything travelled by sea.

A long wooden pier was added in 1879 for the steamers of the Black Isle Steam-ship Company, but the railway reached Fortrose in 1894 and the steamers faded away. The last of the old jetty was carried off in a storm in 1927.

Today the harbour is quiet and lovely, sheltering the bright dinghies and yachts of the Chanonry Sailing Club. It is a fine spot to sit and watch the water, and the bay beside it is good for a swim. Chanonry Point, famous for its dolphins, is a short walk along the shore.

Close byFortrose CathedralThe ruined cathedral in the town.1 min by roadSee itFortrose Cathedral's red sandstone arches and clock tower in its green square under a blue sky.
Before you go

Open at any hour and free.

Where
Fortrose, IV10 8TY.
Built
1817, by Thomas Telford.
Today
Home of the Chanonry Sailing Club.
Where it is

On the shore at Fortrose, below the town, IV10 8TY.

Close byFortrose.
  1. Teal banquettes and wooden tables at IV10 under glass pendant lamps and a model sailing ship.IV10 Café Bar DeliUnder a mile1 min by road
  2. Harbour Lane, FortroseAn illustrator’s shop on Fortrose High Street, known for hand-drawn lampshades of Scottish places.Under a mile1 min by road
  3. The whisky bar at The Anderson in Fortrose, a barman pulling a pint before floor-to-ceiling shelves of bottles.The AndersonUnder a mile1 min by road
  4. RosemarkieRosemarkieThe next village along the bay.1 mile4 min by road
  5. Chanonry PointChanonry PointThe dolphin-watching point along the shore.2 miles8 min by road
Directions
Fortrose Cathedral's red sandstone arches and clock tower in its green square under a blue sky.AttractionsFortrose Cathedral0.3 miles
Glass bakery display with tarts, brownies and pastries on labelled shelvesCafeBakhoos Bakery0.5 miles
A stone building strung with fairy lights and greenery houses Crofters, its anchor sign beside a picnic table in Ross and Cromarty.RestaurantsCrofters Café, Rosemarkie1.3 miles
White-washed Cromar House on a corner, slate roof and pale blue window framesAttractionsGroam House Museum1.3 miles
Waterfall cascading over mossy rocks into a woodland pool in autumnAttractionsFairy Glen, Rosemarkie1.4 miles
The Highland Mobile Sauna, a wooden barrel sauna on a trailer with its chimney, on the grass above Rosemarkie beach.ActivityHighland Mobile Sauna1.5 miles
The Rosemarkie Beach Cafe, a small blue timber cafe with its name over the door and tables outside.CafeRosemarkie Beach Café1.5 miles
Walkers and a dog stroll along a wide sandy beach under clear skiesWalksBeach at Rosemarkie1.5 miles
A bottlenose dolphin surfacing in the grey water of the Moray Firth beside a Dolphin Trips Avoch boat.ToursDolphin Trips Avoch1.5 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the harbour, and when each is next free.

Living room with red sofa, patterned ottoman and staircase behindNewhall Mains
  • To stay
  • In Balblair
  • 6 miles from Fortrose Harbour
Check datesA curved cabin clad in overlapping wooden shingles stands on gravel among wildflowers, arched windows and a door along one side.Boath Cabin
  • Sleeps 4
  • In The Black Isle
  • 12 miles from Fortrose Harbour
Free 17–19 OctA white harled cottage with a slated roof and gabled porch sits behind a garden of wildflowers, a table and chairs on the patio.Garden Cottage
  • Sleeps 6
  • In The Black Isle
  • 14 miles from Fortrose Harbour
Check datesA stone cottage with a slated roof and dormer windows sits behind a gravel drive, ivy covering one gable end.Ivy Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In The Black Isle
  • 14 miles from Fortrose Harbour
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in The Black IsleAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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