Areas

The Black Isle is made up of a collection of small towns and villages, each with its own atmosphere. Crossing the Kessock Bridge from Inverness, the first stop is North Kessock, where seals rest on the sandbanks of the Beauly Firth and cottages look across the water towards the city. From here, the road cuts through open farmland to Fortrose, a graceful town once home to the Bishops of Ross. Its cathedral ruins and calm seafront set the tone for the peninsula’s slower rhythm.

Next is Rosemarkie, one of the oldest settlements in the Highlands. It sits beside a long beach and holds the Groam House Museum, home to Pictish carvings that link the village to Scotland’s earliest history. Just beyond lies Chanonry Point, where the bottlenose dolphins of the Moray Firth draw crowds to watch them breach close to shore.

Along the northern coast, Avoch curves around a working harbour, known for its fishing heritage and ties to the explorer Alexander Mackenzie. West of here, Resolis lies among quiet farmland and the restored Kirkmichael Church, a peaceful stop overlooking the firth. At the tip of the peninsula, Cromarty is the largest and most distinctive village, a mix of Georgian houses, galleries and harbour views framed by the Sutors headlands.

Further inland, Munlochy is known for its woodland and the old Clootie Well, while Culbokie looks across to Ben Wyvis from its hillside. The road then leads west to Muir of Ord and Conon Bridge, where the peninsula meets the rest of Ross-shire.