Scotland – The Black Isle

[ Photo Blog #59 ]

 The Black Isle lies in North-East Scotland.  It is said to derive its name from the fact that, since snow hardly ever lies there in winter, the promontory looks black while the surrounding country is white.  However, contrary to its name, the Black Isle is not in fact an island.  It is a peninsula, surrounded on three sides by  water, with Cromarty Firth to the north, Beauly Firth to the south and the Moray Firth to the east.  The nearest large centre of population is Inverness.

The area has long been famous for its rich agricultural farming land.  It is also well known as a great place to enjoy wildlife – from dolphins to deer, from osprey to otters, from seals to Scots Pine. The peninsula is steeped in history, with castles, cairns and even a cathedral and three museums.  Wherever you look there are beautiful views – if you discount the many oil rigs which are often moored in the firths for servicing purposes. Ben Nevis can be seen to the west on a clear day, and a network of quiet roads and forest tracks make the area easy to explore.

CHANONRY POINT:   A famous place for spotting the Moray Forth dolphins from the shore. ( the photo of dolphins below was taken here, but it is from a postcard as my own attempt to photograph them just managed to capture a fin!).  On the opposite side of the firth from here is the historic military base of Fort George.

( Notes adapted from ‘Visit Scotland, black-isle.info, wikipedia )

My photographs are from a visit I made to the area in 2003.

Looking north across the Firth of Cromarty

Roadside nasturtiums

Roadside floral display – Rosebay Willow herb (?)

Oil rig awaiting servicing in the Cromarty Firth

Oil rig on the Moray Firth 

Gull on the shoreline at Chanonry Point

Chanonry Point on the Moray Firth – the ideal spot to view dolphins

The lighthouse at Chanonry Point

Dolphins leaping in the Firth

Oyster Catcher at Chanonry Point

View southwards across the Moray Firth to Fort George

A closer view of Fort George

 

 

 

Stone commemorating the story of the ‘The Brahan Seer’  (click for the Wikipedia reference).