THINGS TO DO

Creel Cottage faces south and enjoys panoramic views over Avoch harbour, to hills beyond the Moray Firth.  It is approximately half way between the fast growing city of Inverness and the old fishertown of Cromarty in an area known as the 'Bonny' Black Isle (actually it is niether an island nor black, but it is 'bonny')

Touring and Sighteeing

The Black Isle has a charm of it's own and is also an ideal centre for exploring the Scottish Highlands. (Inverness 15 minutes, Loch Ness 30 minutes, The Spey Valley and Cairngorm mountains 1 hour, the West or North coast and the Isle of Skye 2 to 3 hours).  From Creel Cottage a car is not essential as the bus into Inverness runs approximately every hour with the last bus back late at night.  From Inverness there is a choice of coach tours ranging from Cullodden Battle Field to The Orkney Isles, spectacular train rides to such places as Edinburgh, the Kyle of Lochalsh and Thurso and boat trips down the Caledonian Canal to Urquhart Castle.

Walking and Bird Watching

These can begin at Creel's doorstep by walking some of the network of paths recently restored on the southern side of the Black Isle by The Footpath Trust.   There is plenty of information locally regarding the flora and fauna of the area.

Dolphin Spotting

Many people come from far afield to see the dolphins in the Moray Firth.  From Creel you can choose to look out of the bedroom window or a) walk 50 metres and book an hours boat trip from Avoch Hourbour, b) go to Chanonry Point (1.5 miles/2.5kms 

(probably the best place in the world to see wild dolphins from dry land - take a tip and go approximately half an hour after low tide).

Mountain Biking, Quad Biking and Horse Riding

There is a purpose made series of rides for Mountain Bikes between Rosemarkie and Eathie.  For Quad Biking and Pony Trekking look no further than  Broomhill Farm, Fortrose.

Sport and Leisure Pursuits

The Black Isle Leisure Centre has a Gym, Badminton Courts and table tennis tables.  Fortrose/Rosemarkie has an excellent 18 hole links Golf Course. Both Avoch and Fortrose have Football Pitches, Tennis Courts and Bowling Greens.

Eating Out and Eating In

All the local villages boast at least one good pub/restaurant: Avoch - The Station Hotel, Fortrose - The Anderson and Rubens, Rosemarkie - The Plough Inn and Crofters, Munlochy - The Munlochy Hotel.

Fortrose has a good old fashioned Fish and Chip Shop (why not take a portion to Chanory Point and watch for dolphins).  Avoch has both Chinese and Indian Take-aways.

A Wee Dram, a Glass of Wine and a Bottle of Beer

Normally it is unwise to mix the grain with the grape, but here we are highlighting a Fine Glen Ord Single Malt extracted from barley distilled at Muir of Ord (excellent visitor centre and tour of the ditillery for a nominal fee which can be reclaimed by making a purchase in the shop).  A selection of wines ranging from Elderflower to Birch Sap can be found at Moniack Winery (try the Sloe Gin!) and The Black Isle Brewery will be found just outside Munlochy brewing ale and stout from strictly organic produce.

History

Avoch Heritage Centre provides an insite on a community which grew from fishing - mainly herring.  The Groam House Museum in Rosemarkie looks back on the time of the Picts and the Scots. The Cromarty Courthouse centres on the Highland Clearances when thousands of Highlanders had little choice but to migrate to places such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.  Within site of Creel Cottage and just across the Firth can be found the site of the last civil was in Britain in 1746 at Cullodden where Bonny Prince Charlie's depleted Jacobites faced the Redcoat army of the Duke of Cumberland.  Walk the fields and learn from the displays and multimedia presentation at the visitor centre. A short distance along the coast is Fort George (open to visitors) built shortly after the Battle of Cullodden in the reign of George 2nd as a fortification agianst the 'olde alliance' - The French. 

You had better book a fortnight as a week may not enough - and we have yet to mention Inverness with its shops, restaurants, pubs, cafes, cinemas, theatre, museum, swimming pool, park, bowling alley, gymnasium, squash/tennis courts and golf courses