Summer 2022: exploring Cromarty 3

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Cromarty from the Moray Firth

On one of our mornings in Cromarty we took a boat trip with EcoVentures hoping to spot dolphins – successfully, as it turned out, but there were other things to enjoy too. Cromarty from the water, for example, including landmarks we had already explored on foot such as the lighthouse and Hugh Miller’s statue (just visible at the top of the first image below).

Cromarty from the water, Hugh Miller statue in background
Cromarty lighthouse from the water

Life on board was chilly, but hot chocolate was provided.

At sea with EcoVentures
At sea with EcoVentures

We got up close and personal with the oil rigs and windfarm construction mentioned in my first post about Cromarty. The large buoy is a memorial on the spot where HMS Natal was wrecked and overturned by an internal explosion on the 30th December 1915.

Oil rig in Moray Firth
Oil rig in Moray Firth
Wind turbine construction in Moray Firth
Memorial to HMS Natal

We admired other boats.

In Cromarty Harbour
Lucky Erin passing Cromarty
Yacht in Moray Firth

And spotted a few birds, mainly cormorants and shags, but the main reason for the trip kept itself for the way back when a pair of dolphins started playing around the boat. Wow! That was a highlight.

Cormorants / shags
Dolphins on Moray Firth

So now I really must wrap up Cromarty with the other things that caught my eye. I’ll start seriously, and get sillier as I go on. First, the War Memorial – I wonder how closely related all those Watsons were? Below that is the Emigration Stone, which I now realise I should have included in my last Cromarty post in the section about Hugh Miller, who was a writer as well as a geologist. Erected in 2002 on Miller’s birthday, it is a tribute to the thousands of emigrants who departed Cromarty for the New World during the Highland clearances in the 1830s. The central inscription is taken from Hugh Miller’s report in the Inverness Courier of the sailing of the Cleopatra in June 1831, with the names of 39 other ships inscribed around the edge.

Cromarty War Memorial
Cromarty War Memorial
Emigration stone

Some quirky art moments next. The two mosaic panels are part of Knotworks and Networks – A Celtic Tree Alphabet Mosaic Trail, of which we saw several others on the Black Isle. These represent F for Fearn (Celtic for alder) and L for Luis (rowan).

Cromarty “boat”
Yarn bombed stone
Fearn by Cromarty Youth Group Juniors
Luis by Cromarty Youth Group Seniors
Cromarty Youth Cafe
Cromarty gate
Keep on saving coal

These three beauties are, I think, guiding the way to Cromarty House.

Cromarty House statues
Cromarty House statues
Cromarty House statues

Who doesn’t love a good bench? I think the folk at Calluna (a dress shop) need to reconsider their use of apostrophes (or lack thereof).

Bench with a view
Calluna’s Men’s bench
Calluna’s Men’s bench
Rest ye here a while in peace
Rest ye here a while in peace
Yes bench, Cromarty

And finally, the plain daft. Do you ever choose a bottle of wine just for its label? And the card in the gift shop window is not unrelated!

Colette wine
Colette wine

I might be finished with Cromarty, but there is more to come on the rest of the Black Isle. All in good time!

Scotland, UK ,

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  2. Regarding apostrophes, in the Anglosphere increasingly many governmental geographical naming authorities are ditching them. The United States officially writes Pikes Peak (named for Zebulon Pike), and “according to the NZ Parliamentary standards style guide, apart from a few exceptions (such as Arthur’s Pass and Hawke’s Bay), New Zealand place names do not have an apostrophe.” In addition to missing apostrophes, many people now insert them in places where they’re wrong, for instance “I baked three cake’s yesterday.”

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  4. We’ve not made it to Cromarty yet – though we did fail to spot dolphins from Fort George. Another one for the list – lovely post, great photos.
    Is there way of bottle of choosing wine, other than by its label? And price, of course…hard to get one for less than £2.50 these days.

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  8. I’m trying to remember where I’ve heard of Cromarty, but I’m drawing a blank. But I have heard of it and that made me enjoy these photos all the more! As for the war memorial and the memorial to all those who lost their homes during the Highland Clearances, that is so sad. Such a waste of precious lives.

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  10. Well, I have seen many objects been yarn bombed though a stone is a first. Quirky. I think colourful handmade objects make a place memorable.

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  11. It’s always a treat to see dolphins at play. And as for the use of apostrophes, there are either none when there should be some or there are some when there shouldn’t be. It’s a losing battle.

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  12. You always manage to find great local art works on your travels. There also seems to be a lot more of it around in the UK than 20 years ago when I last visited that area.

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  15. Loved the Dolphins. I always meant to go Whale Watching, but somehow I never managed to get round to it. Not that I have never seen whales at sea. Perhaps when Annabell is better and able to travel, we’ll get to see the big fellows,

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  16. Love the boat trip. Interesting to get up close and personal with all that sea industry. And that’s a great photo of the dolphin. I like pretty and or quirky wine labels. 😊

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  19. I can never resist a boat trip and this looks like a great one, especially seeing the dolphins – wonderful to catch one out of the water like that! As for the wine, there’s a place near us that sells a lot of wines with slightly gimmicky labels – it seems to be a new thing 😆

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  21. Another interesting visit. It is always fun to compare the different perspectives of things between land and sea. You have a great sense of observation to pick out interesting details. (Suzanne)

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  22. I don’t drink but I rather like the description of that wine 🙂 Lucky you seeing the dolphins – I’ve been to a few places where they are supposed to be but haven’t seen any yet. I was taken out to lunch on Saturday by an old friend I haven’t seen for several years, he was on his way up to Nairn so it made me think about your Cromarty holiday.

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  23. Dolphins are amazing! I have not been to Cromarty for years but I think you might have inspired me. As someone whose ancestors were forcibly cleared (though not from that area) that memorial stone breaks my heart.

    Also so tempted to go down the rabbit hole of researching the Watsons…you know me! I have all the means to do so, so watch this space…

    Thanks for that.

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  26. How fabulous to see the dolphins. Seems a lot is going on in the Moray Firth. Closest I have been is Nairn on the opposite coast. And yes, I have been known to choose wine based on its name. Which is how we got to love “The Cat Amongst the Pigeons Fat Cat Barossa Shiraz”

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