• Clootie Well - This historic site is dedicated to St. Boniface. The tradition involves tying a cloth or “clootie” to a tree after dipping it in the well, symbolizing that the person from whom the cloth was taken, who is ill at home, will experience relief from their ailment as the cloth dries.
• Fortrose Cathedral - Dating back to around 1300, the cathedral fell out of favor after the Reformation in 1560, leading to the cessation of services. In the 1650s, stones from the now roofless and decaying nave and choir were removed. This, along with the Priory at Beauly and other sacred sites, was dismantled, with barges of stone transported to Inverness to construct Oliver Cromwell’s Citadel, reportedly costing £1,000 per barge, a significant sum at the time.
• Chanonry Point - Chanonry Point is a land extension into the Moray Firth between the villages of Fortrose and Rosemarkie. It is considered one of the best spots to view Bottle-Nosed Dolphins, reputedly the largest of their kind in the world. A Stevenson lighthouse oversees the narrows here, and across the Firth, the garrison Fortress of Fort George, built after the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion to pacify the Highlands, is starkly visible. It remains an active garrison today, home to the Black Watch Regiment of the British Army.
• Groam House Museum - Located in the village of Rosemarkie, this museum of Celtic and Pictish Art is the custodian of the Rosemarkie Stone, a major surviving example of Pictish stone art, as well as the Rosemarkie sculpture fragments, which include 14 stone pieces, the most famous being Daniel’s Stone. The museum also houses the George Bain Collection. Bain, regarded as the father of modern Celtic design, dedicated many years to deciphering the intricate mathematical designs found in Celtic art. In 2015, the museum organized a Celtic felt banner-making project for the Celtic Connections Festival 2016.
• Fairy Glen Falls - This romantic and secluded dell is steeped in wild scenes and legends. Until relatively recently, it was known at many a winter fireside as a favorite haunt of fairies. An elderly woman recounted seeing countless fairies dancing as the sun set on the far edge of the dell when she was a young girl. (Hugh Miller 1835)
• Cromarty - Cromarty’s connection to the sea is inseparable. Fishing was traditionally the primary industry, with other trade conducted by boat from its exceptional natural harbor. It served as a significant British naval base during both World Wars. HMS Natal tragically exploded nearby on December 30, 1915, resulting in a substantial loss of life. Cromarty lends its name to one of the sea areas in the British Shipping Forecast. In the 19th century, Cromarty was the birthplace and home of Hugh Miller, a geologist, writer, and journalist. His cottage and the Old Courthouse are open to the public. The Sutors of Cromarty, two opposing headlands marking the entrance to the Cromarty Firth, are steeped in stories. “Sutor” is the Scots word for shoemaker, and one tale tells of two giant shoemakers, the Sutors, who used the cliffs as their workbenches.
• Cromarty Firth - Renowned as Europe’s finest deep-water natural harbor, the Firth hosted the High Seas Fleet during both World Wars. Today, the N.A.T.O fleet still visits, creating an impressive sight. The port of Invergordon, across the Firth, serves as a significant base for visiting cruise liners and as a service port for the oil industry.

• Private tour with personalized attention
• Convenient hotel or port pickup and drop-off included
• Knowledgeable professional guide for an insightful experience
• Engaging live entertainment during the tour
• Expert driver/guide ensuring a safe journey
• Educational live commentary on board
• Comfortable transport by private vehicle

• Gratuities
• Lunch

The Charming Black Isle

Despite its name, the Charming Black Isle seldom appears as anything but black on a radiant summer’s day. Nor does it take the form of an island on any given day. The term ‘Charming’, a Scottish expression denoting beauty, indeed holds true for the ‘Isle’, offering countless scenic vistas, diverse wildlife, and intriguing sites for visitors. The ‘Isle’ is actually a peninsula poised between the large swathes of two inlets, Moray and Cromarty.

• Driver will pick up from your location and drop off at your required final destination.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.