The Black Isle

We drove down from Wick to the Black Isle to meet up with Margaret and Kevin for a week in the cottage they usually rent which overlooks the Moray Firth in the hills above Fortrose.

 

 

Despite its name the Black Isle it is not an island, but a Peninsular surrounded on 3 sides by water, the Cromarty Firth to the north, the Beauly Firth to the south, and the Moray Firth to the east.  One crosses the River Conan on the Conan Bridge to gain access to the Black Isle from the direction we were coming.

 



 

Once we found this cottage (there were a few discussions en route as to where it really was) - It is in the photo below (and above) up the lane in the centre of the shot - and first cottage on the right at the top. It sits up high above the Moray Firth with some stunning views - and a very comfy cottage as well.

 

 

We overlooked  Fort George - a large 18th Century Fortress - more on that later.

The flowering heath surrounded bays

 

Sailing on the firth

and the Chanonry Point Lighthouse where the Moray's dolphins come out to play.

 

Must apologise for the dusky quality of these shots - they were taken via a long zoom from quite some distance away.

 



 

After settling in - next action

 

 

down to Chanonry Point 

 

 

and its Lighthouse

 

 

to spot a dolphin or two

 

 

between the Point and Fort George

 

 

My one dolphin pic. - only photo which actually showed one.

 

 

Kevin did better than I (the 2 below)

 

 

a bit more patience I feel

 

 

I was quite captivated by the rainbow

 

 

there one minute, and gone the next.

 

 

When we arrived back at the cottage

 

 

The sun lighting up the fields in front of us was stunning

 

 

as well as across Fort George

 

 

and a lovely sky followed this.