If you’re driving the North Coast 500 or visiting Inverness (known as the capital of the Scottish highlands), one thing you should add to your list is a trip to the Black Isle. Found about a ten minute drive from Inverness, this large peninsula has plenty to entertain you, and we’re going to highlight our favourite things to do on the Black Isle in today’s post.
Despite the name, the Black Isle is neither an island or black. The colour in the name originates from the fact that it was once covered in dark, dense woodland, whilst the “isle” is because it is sandwiched between two large bodies of water, so access in times gone past would have been almost like visiting and island.
Today there is a lot to do on the Black Isle, including visiting an organic brewery, taking wildlife viewing tours and more. Let’s take a look at some ideas for what to do on the Black Isle.
Table of Contents:
What to Do on the Black Isle
We’ve arranged some of our favourite sights and activities on the Black Isle into a logical order to help you plan your day around visiting them. But since everything is fairly close together, you can rearrange them as makes the most sense for you. As you’ll see, there’s a lot to do on the Black Isle!
1. Robertsons the Larder
If you think you might have a picnic on the Black Isle, or are just looking for some tasty locally sourced food products, then you should pop by Robertsons the Larder on your way from Inverness.
This family run farm shop and children’s farm carries a wide range of delicious Scottish products, which are guaranteed to tempt you. They have everything from black pudding to smoked salmon to ice cream, and are the perfect stop to pack a picnic for the rest of the your day.
They also have a pair of gorgeous Highland Coos on site, which make for an excellent photo opportunity.
2. Black Isle Brewery
Started in 1998, the Black Isle Brewery has become one of Britain’s more well known organic breweries. They have the capacity to brew up to 10,000 litres of beer a day, and they ship their beer all over the world.
Today you can visit the brewery and take a free tour to learn all about the beer making process. You can also sample some of their beers, and of course, purchase some to take home with you.
We can definitely recommend doing so, it’s a fantastic beer and they have flavour options to suit pretty much all palates. We particularly enjoyed the Oatmeal Stout, which has a lovely dark colour and an almost chocolatey flavour.
3. The Clootie Well
Not too far from the Black Isle Brewery is the Clootie Well, which I have to admit, looks a bit like a scene from a movie like the Blair Witch Project.
In Celtic history, a Clootie Well was a place of pilgrimage for those seeking healing. They would normally be found at a water source like a spring, which would have a tree growing nearby. Pilgrims would come to the well, dip a rag into it, rub the rag onto the affected part of their body, and then tie the rag onto the tree whilst offering some sort of prayer.
The theory would be that as the rag disintegrated over time, so too would the ailment. This particular Clootie Well, which is found near Munlochy, was said to be particularly good for healing children, who would often be left here overnight to heal.
Today the Clootie Well on the Black Isle is still a popular place to visit, and the trees surrounding the well are covered in rags and other items, including teddy bears and other offerings, some of which have writings on. It’s a short (five-minute) walk from the car park here through the rag tied trees to the well itself, and is certainly an interesting spot for a visit.
4. Fortrose Cathedral
Moving along the south coast of the Black Isle and we now come to Fortrose Cathedral in the town of Fortrose. This was once the seat of the bishops of this area, although the 13th century building is now just a magnificent red sandstone ruin.
Despite being a ruin, the cathedral is still an impressive place to visit. It’s right in the centre of Fortrose, surrounded by greenery, and a number of details survive including some of the stone vaulting. It’s also free to visit.
5. Dolphin Watching at Chanonry Point
A short drive or a twenty minute walk from Fortrose Cathedral will bring you to Chanonry Point. This promontory is home to a pretty lighthouse and offers spectacular views up and down the Moray Firth, including across to Fort George, one of the UK’s most impressive military fortresses.
However, the real treat at Chanonry Point is the opportunity it offers for dolphin watching. As the tide starts to rise (check tide times here), a pod of bottlenose dolphins can often be seen unaided from the beach. They’re here to take advantage of the optimal feeding conditions that the rising tide creates, and they often come very close to the shingle beach.
There is parking at the end of the point by the lighthouse, and at the right time of day it’s not hard to find the optimal point to watch the dolphins as there will usually be a fair number of people gathered. Just follow the path from the car park to the shingle beach, or at lower tide you can walk along the beach.
Note that this car park is pay and display during the day, with both coins and cards accepted. It’s also only suitable for cars, there’s no parking or turning for campervans or caravans. If you are in a longer vehicle you’ll have to park in Fortrose and then walk out to the point.
The best time of year to see the dolphins is in spring or summer, when they are hunting migrating salmon, although there is the chance to see them year round. In the warmer months there’s also often an ice cream van here, so even if you don’t see dolphins, you can at least get an ice cream!
6. Golf at Rosemarkie
If you love golf, then you will definitely want to make a stop at the Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club. In operation since 1793, this is the 15th oldest recorded golf course in the world, and its location on this stunning peninsula makes for a very memorable round of golf.
It’s definitely one of the more popular courses in Scotland, and is open to visitors to play. You just need to book in advance via their website, and of course, to have golfing experience. The course is described as fast, and has tight fairways and bunkers galore.
7. Groam House Museum
In the town of Rosemarkie is the Groam House Museum, home to an outstanding collection of Pictish carved stones.
Spread over two floors, and with free entry, here you can learn all about the history of these stones, which are over a thousand years old. The museum is also home to an exhibit from local artist George Bain, as well as a history of the people of this part of the Black Isle. Well worth a visit.
8. Fairy Glen Waterfalls
At the north end of the town of Rosemarkie is the parking area for the Fairy Glen trail. This is around a thirty minute round trip walk along a pretty stream, which brings you to the beautiful Fairy Glen itself.
Here there are two gorgeous waterfalls which are wonderfully photogenic, and definitely worth the small effort it takes to reach them. Definitely one for a tripod and set of neutral density filters if you’re into photography!
9. Cromarty Brewing Company
Whilst the Black Isle Brewery is the most well known brewery in this part of the world, it’s not the only game in town. Not far from the town of Cromarty is the Cromarty Brewing Company, which has been making beer on the Black Isle since 2011.
Its also possible to take a tour here, however, currently tours only run once a week and they cost £5 per person. The website does however say that you are able to schedule tours in advance for other times if you wish, you just need to get in touch to arrange them.
There is also a shop on site which is open year round, so even if you don’t take a tour, you can pop in and see what’s on offer.
10. Cromarty Lighthouse
On to the town of Cromarty now, which sits at the tip of the Black Isle. In the summer you can actually take a ferry from here to Nigg, to save yourself the drive back to the main road.
We’re not done with exploring the Black Isle though. The town of Cromarty has a number of attractions, first of which is the Cromarty Lighthouse. This was built in 1842, and operated as a lighthouse until 2006. Today is a part of the University of Aberdeen, and operates as a field station, supporting research within their Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences.
You can’t get into the Lighthouse, but it is still worth taking a look at the building and the nearby harbour area, which is pretty.
11. Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage and Museum
One of Cromarty’s most famous inhabitants was Hugh Miller. Born in Cromarty in 1802, he became known as a geologist, writer and paleontologist, as well as for his religious beliefs, which conflicted strongly with his scientific discoveries.
Today, his collection of over 6,000 fossils is a big part of the National Museum of Scotland’s collection in Edinburgh, and he is considered to be one of the finest Scottish palaeontologists. The thatched cottage where he was born in Cromarty can today be visited, as can the property next door where he also lived.
Here you can learn about his life and work, as well as see the cottage, which has been restored to how it would have looked when he was there. The Hugh Miller Birthplace Cottage and Museum is operated by the National Trust for Scotland, and there is a small admission fee for non-members.
Fans of Hugh Miller will also want to take a short walk up behind the museum to the old Cromarty graveyard, where as well as a lovely ruined old church there is a large statue to Hugh Miller.
12. Cromarty Courthouse Museum
Right next door to the Hugh Miller Birthplace Cottage and Museum is the Cromarty Courthouse Museum. This volunteer run community museum is set in the old courthouse museum, which dates from 1773.
Inside, you’ll find permanent exhibitions about the town and surrounding areas. The museum also hosts special exhibitions and displays through the year, which feature interesting stories from history as well as local artists. You’ll also find that the courtroom has been set up to re-enact a courtroom scene, and features life-like figures and accompanying audio to tell the story.
The museum is free to visit, although donations are appreciated. It’s not open year round, so check the official website for opening details.
13. Wildlife Boat Tours
From Cromarty you can take a wildlife watching adventure out into the Moray Firth, where you can see all sorts of wildlife, including the resident colony of Bottlenose Dolphins.
EcoVentures is the small, family run tour operator that operates out of Cromarty, and they run a two hour wildlife watching tour. Booking in advance is highly recommended as the boat only takes up to 12 people.
14. Kirkmichael
About a ten minute drive west of Cromarty along the north coast of the Black Isle is Kirkmichael. This medieval church had fallen into serious disrepair, but thanks to the efforts of the Kirkmichael Trust, it has been full restored and made safe for visitors.
Today the old church is fully open and has been turned into a very small museum showcasing some of the most interesting old medieval gravestones found in the Kirkyard. It’s a peaceful and interesting place to visit.
15. Glen Ord Distillery
We’re going to finish off our tour of the Black Isle with a visit to the Glen Ord distillery. This is the last surviving single malt scotch whisky distillery on the Black Isle, and dates from 1838. It’s quite an operation, with the capacity to produce over three million litres of whisky a year.
As well as producing a Glen Ord whisky, the distillery produces whisky for the Diageo brands, which includes the Johnny Walker whiskys. Naturally you can take a tour of the facility, which includes a taste of the Glen Ord 12 year old.
Tours run year-round and whilst you don’t need to book in advance, it’s always a good idea to avoid disappointment.
Map of Black Isle Attractions
Here’s a handy map of the Black Isle attractions to help you plan your day. You can see this map on Google here.
How to Get to the Black Isle
The Black Isle is just north of Inverness, so is very easy to get to if you have a car, being less than a twenty minute drive from the city centre to the first attractions.
If you don’t have a car, there are also bus services, which are primarily operated by Stagecoach. These will let you access many of the major attractions on the Black Isle. See timetables here.
We are not currently aware of any tour companies operating tours of the Black Isle. One of our favourite tour companies in the UK, Rabbie’s, used to offer a tour here but this has been discontinued as of 2022.
Where to Stay on the Black Isle
With the Black Isle being so close to Inverness, it’s certainly possible to stay in Inverness and visit the Black Isle as a day trip from Inverness. If you wish to do that, check out Inverness hotel listings on booking.com here.
If you would like to stay on the Black Isle, we can recommend either Home Farm Bed and Breakfast or The Factor’s House, both of which are well rated by visitors. The latter in particular is a favourite of ours, we loved the warm welcome, comfortable rooms and delicious breakfast (the hardest part is choosing what to have!).
Alternatively, if you would like to camp, there’s a large campsite near Chanonry Point, the Fortrose Bay Campsite, which has lots of pitches.
We also written a detailed guide to the best accommodation options on the North Coast 500, several of which are within a short drive of the Black Isle, so do check that out as well.
Further Reading
Hopefully this post contains everything you need to know to help you plan out what to do on the Black Isle. We’ve also written a lot of other content about travelling in Scotland and the UK, plus we have some other resources we would like to recommend to help you even more. These are:
- If you’re staying in Inverness, the Black Isle is one of many great day trips you can take. See our guide to some of our favourite day trips from Inverness for more inspiration.
- We also have a guide to things to do in Inverness, where you’ll find lots of sights and attractions
- We have a complete guide to Loch Ness, one of the most popular attractions in Scotland, which is just a short distance from the Black Isle
- We also have guides to day trips from other Scottish cities, including the best day trips from Edinburgh, best day trips from Aberdeen, and best day trips from Glasgow.
- The Black Isle is one of the first stops you’ll come to if you’re driving the North Coast 500 counter-clockwise from Inverness. Check out our detailed guide to the North Coast 500, as well as my photography highlights on the North Coast 500 for some inspiration for your trip.
- If you’d like an itinerary for the North Coast 500, check out our detailed 7 Day North Coast 500 itinerary as well as our slightly shorter 5 day North Coast 500 itinerary
- If you head the other way from Inverness, you can take in the North East 250 driving route. See our NE250 itinerary for some ideas
- If you’re driving in the UK for the first time, check out my tips for driving in the UK for some advice
- Looking for more inspiration for Scotland? Check out our 2 day Edinburgh itinerary, Glasgow and Loch Lomond itinerary and our itinerary for Skye and the Highlands to get you started.
- We also have a guide to things to do on Islay if you’re looking for more island inspiration
- For wider UK trip planning, we have suggested one week and two week UK itineraries as a starter, plus lots more UK content to help you plan your trip.
- If you’d like a guidebook for your time visiting Scotland, we recommend the Rick Steves Scotland guide
And that’s it for our guide to what to do on the Black Isle! If you’ve got any feedback or questions, just let us know in the comments below.
Trevor Worth says
My late Mother’s family came from Avoch, with family names of Jack and McLeman, well back in early 1800s. They came to Victoria, Australia for the Gold Rush in mid-1800s. I always read what I can about the place & its people. Family info has them as being local bakers. Thank you for this feature.
Laurence Norah says
It’s my pleasure Trevon, I’m glad to hear you found it interesting 🙂
Trevor Worth says
Laurence, are there still descendants of these two families in Avoch? I would love to get into contact if there’s any possibility. Thanks kindly. Trevor.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Trevor
So I don’t know personally, but some quick internet searching shows that there are some families with the same name on the Black Isle. This thread on the Cromarty Archive for example discussed the McLeman family. I’d suggest reaching out to the folks at black isle info to see if they can offer assistance, their contact details are here: https://black-isle.info/contact-us.asp
Best of luck!
Laurence
RIKKI J MCANDREW says
My family has been traced back to The Black isle (McAndrew) the earliest we have is David McAndrov , born 1640, and his son Donald McAndrew, born 1665, both born in the Black isle and then Donald’s son David McAndrew was born in 1700 in Kiltearn, Ross-shire. Hope I can get to visit the area one day.
Laurence Norah says
Wow, sounds like you’ve done some extensive genealogical research Rikki. I hope you get to visit someday too, it’s a lovely part of Scotland 🙂
berrat says
I also enjoyed these interesting things during my last journey and came back with a lot of pleasant memories.
Laurence Norah says
Good to hear!
Lois Young Flyte says
My great grandmother, Christine McDonald, d/o Andrew Taylor and Janet McAndrew. Andrew Taylor, weaver, in Bogiwell and Janet McAndrew, had daughter Christina born 26 January 1803. She married Roderick McDonald, Smith at the Ness, and Christina Taylor, Bogiwell in the parish of Rosemarkie, 14 Feb 1829. Roderick was born in Tain, Rossshire, and apparently, then went to Black Isle. They moved to Dornoch, where he was a smith at Skelbo, Sutherland. My gr grandmother was baptized in Dornoch Cathedral. I have this record. Do you have any photos of Bogiwell, is it still in existence or where Roderick might have been employed as a Smith. The family left Scotland in the Clearings in 1853 and settled in Oxford County, Ontario, Canada. My sister and I were in your area in 1988, drove across the Black Isle to Dornoch, where we spent several days locating where our McDonalds lived and worked. I did not know at that time that Christina came from “near Rosemarkie” would have loved to spent time there, particularly after seeing your website with the info on the Picts articles, the dolphins, etc. I have written a History of the Young Family (my maiden name, they originated in Glasgow and left for Canada in 1845), my Robert Young married Christina McDonald, d/o the above Roderick McDonald and Christine Taylor.We spent time sightseeing in Sutherlandshire, and in Inverness. Fell in love with your part of Scotland!!
Laurence Norah says
Hi Lois!
Thanks for your comment and sharing your story. Unfortunately we don’t have any images from Bogiwell, and we aren’t sure if it’s still there any more. It is certainly a beautiful part of the world – we hope you make it back someday!
Best
Laurence
Sherry James says
My Grandfather told me his family was from the “Black Isls’…I do appreciate your page….
Laurence Norah says
Our pleasure Sherry! We hope you get to visit someday 🙂