Let’s clear something up straight away. Contrary to its name, Black Isle is not an island. It is, in fact, a peninsula with three bodies of water gracing its shores: Moray Firth, Cromarty Firth and Beauly Firth. Black Isle’s position just shy of Inverness means that it is as easily bypassed as it is explored. We challenge you to opt for the latter.
Black Isle benefits from the calm of the coast and countryside, combined with wonderful woodland walks and waterfalls. If you enjoy a craft beer, the local brewery is reason alone to visit, and did we mention the outdoor activity centre and pods of dolphins? Here are our top things to do in Black Isle.
The Moray Firth, one of the bodies of water which surrounds the Black Isle peninsula, is famed for its population of bottlenose dolphins: it is estimated that just under 200 dolphins are at home here in the firth! The narrow finger of land at Chanonry Point extends out into the firth, offering a perfect, up-close viewing platform for spotting passing dolphins in the wild.
Park your car between Fortrose and Rosemarkie, then walk out to the very tip of Chanonry Point with your eyes, camera and binoculars at the ready! While you’re not guaranteed to catch a glimpse of these beautiful marine creatures, it is said your chances increase during rising tide: check the tide and make sure to time your visit for one hour after low tide.
A fun afternoon is guaranteed at this incredible outdoor activity centre, just a 10 minute drive from Inverness. Owned by Paintball World Champion, Dave Elliot, Wildwoodz is a vast woodland playground, complete with its very own Wild West Village! Try your hand at archery, paintballing, bushcraft or axe-throwing and keep an eye out for special events throughout the year.
The Clootie Well is a colourful, mystical forest walk in Munlochy, steeped in tradition and superstition. Confusion and curiosity would ensue in anyone who stumbles upon it without understanding its meaning.
A ‘clootie’ is the Scots word for cloth, and a well refers (of course) to a natural source of water. It was once believed that ailments could be cured when a cloth or rag from the affected area of the body was dipped in the water then hung on a nearby tree; as the rag disintegrated in the elements, the affliction would gradually be healed.
To this day, clothing, flags, well wishes, and stuffed toys hang from the trees like leaves: a weird and wonderful sight to behold.
Another forest-fix in nearby Rosemarkie, the enchantment here has no connection to healing traditions, but there was a ‘well dressing ceremony’, where local children would create a display of flowers around the fresh spring so that the resident fairies would work their magic to keep the water source clean.
The lovely, leisurely woodland trail leads to a double-whammy of waterfalls; a place which could easily spark or indeed enhance your belief in the existence of fairies! A full description of the walk and starting point at Fairy Glen are available here.
When it comes to edible Highland delights, we’ve got you well covered with our delicious, deep-filled pies, but we fully encourage sampling some local beverages along the way too. Black Isle Brewery began as a wee niche brewery in an old cow shed and has flourished into an award-winning, globally recognised, 100% craft, organic beer.
Visit the vibrant brewery shop to stock up on local beer, straight from the source. The brewery also has a vast and lovingly maintained garden, growing all the salad, herbs and garlic used on the renowned wood-fired pizzas in Black Isle Bar in Inverness.
Got your eye on a pie before your Highland road-trip? Stock up via our Pies by Post service.