Summer 2022: exploring Cromarty 2

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Cromarty from above

Last time, I showed you Cromarty from South Sutor and explored its harbour and graveyards before running out of steam. This time I’ll start with some general views of this lovely little town, including some pretty doors.

Cromarty
Cromarty
Cromarty
Cromarty
Red doors
Blue door
Cromarty
Green door
Notable buildings

Now for some specifically named buildings – some of them more serious than others! First, East House with its colourful doors and lettering.

East House
East House

The pleasingly symmetrical Forsyth House.

Forsyth House
Forsyth House

Cromarty Museum, housed in the old Courthouse, and the Old Brewery, now part of Cromarty Arts Trust.

Museum
Old Brewery

The repurposing theme continues with The Stables, also part of the Arts Trust, and home to a unicorn. We decided against a ride!

Unicorn instructions
The Stables
The Stables with unicorn

The Byre is an attractive housing development converted from an old hempworks.

Hempworks
The Byre
The Byre

In this house James Thomson, a Crimean War hero, was born.

James Thomson birthplace
James Thomson birthplace

And what about this house? Notable for having a resident with a sense of humour I guess! Though the small brass plaque on the gatepost is very sad (underneath the Nothing Happened sign).

49 Church Street
49 Church Street
49 Church Street
49 Church Street
Hugh Miller (1802-1856)

The self-taught geologist, Hugh Miller, was born in Cromarty. His birthplace is now a museum, there is a statue of him overlooking the town, and the Victorian building housing the library, gifted by Andrew Carnegie, is named the Hugh Miller Institute.

Hugh Miller birthplace
Hugh Miller birthplace
Hugh Miller birthplace
Hugh Miller statue
Hugh Miller statue- plaque
Hugh Miller Institute
Hugh Miller Institute

Just outside town, but part of the The Hugh Miller Cromarty Trail, is Eathie Haven where the Jurassic era ammonites which Miller found in his youth kick-started his career as a geologist.

Eathie Haven information board

There’s a steep path down to the shore (which feels even steeper coming back up) and two old bothies, one of which has information about Miller, as well as about salmon netting which took place here until the 1980s. This bothy is still used as such, judging by the provisions stashed above one of the boards. It’s not possible to spot any fossils now, they are long gone, but we liked some of the pretty stones.

Eathie shore
Window in old salmon bothy, Eathie
Old bothy, Eathie
Old bothy, Eathie
Old bothy, Eathie
Old winding gear (?), Eathie
Pretty stone, Eathie
Pretty stone, Eathie

So that seems to be enough to be going on with – my one post about exploring Cromarty is going to turn into three! Another instalment soon.

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45 Comments »

  1. Hi Anabel – what an interesting place … I enjoyed finding out about Hugh Miller … and obviously a place to visit. Also seeing that Ian Rankin hides himself away in the village when he’s writing. Lovely photos – thanks … so fascinating – cheers Hilary

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  3. You’re so much more observant than I am, I would have missed so many of these things! The plaques are fascinating. It’s so interesting to learn about the people who once lived in these old buildings.

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  9. The first photo reminds me a bit of the view over Whitby looking form the top of the 199 steps. I like the plaque on 49 Church Street, someone has a sense of humour 🙂 I love the red doors, and East House is apparently the church hall belonging to East Church and is Category C listed.

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  12. I wonder if the houses built by the sea were for families to see their menfolk arrive safety from a sea voyage. It is lovely to remember people (Hugh Miller) that have had a significant input into the area. That last stone image; I have one pretty much identical to it.

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  18. I used to have summer holidays there, way back in the days before the bridge when the Inverness- Black Isle ferry was still running. Mid 1970s. It’s not changed much though.

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