Car Tour Routes -  North of Inverness Day Tour.

We have put together a circular day trip route of about 60 miles north of Inverness. The maximum time between stops should be no more than about 20 minutes. This route takes you over the Cromarty Firth ‘Europe’s best natural harbour’, home to today’s ocean going cruise liners, once the scene of a British Naval Mutiny and large battleships. The route takes you on a small two-car ferry to the Black Isle to see a number of special places.
Refer to the purple numbers 6 on the map on page 8 for directions.

1. Head north from Inverness along the A9, over the Kessoch Bridge, for about 16 miles to Alness. Turn into Alness on the B9176, drive through the town, following the signs for Invergordon. On the outskirts of Alness you will come to Dalmore Distillery (See page 1 for full details). This is a recommended visit showing the distilling process, producing a top quality Scottish Malt Whisky.

2.Turn left as you leave the distillery through Alness to the B9176 heading towards Bonar Bridge and the Dornoch Firth. This road will take over high moorland before descending down the Dornoch Firth. You will find a long lay-by which we recommend you pull in to, to take in the spectacular view over the firth, then descend down to Bonar Bridge, follow signs to Falls of Shin.

3.  Falls of Shin & Salmon Leap (see page 1) - a very popular attraction in the Scottish Highlands where you get the chance to watch the wild Atlantic salmon leap the falls. The salmon start their run as the waters warm from the end of April through to the end of November. They leap to avoid the rush of water through the falls as they strive to get to their spawning grounds and place of birth at the headwaters of the River Shin and its tributaries. It is an incredible spectacle that should be witnessed at first hand to be believed! From the car park at the visitor centre to the falls is about one hundred yards, along some wide but not too deep steps.

At the Visitor Centre (see page 1) you can enjoy a good cappuccino as well as a tasty lunch. The shop stocks many Harrods goods. There is a generously sized playing area for the children.

Falls of Shin Forest Walks - Using the Visitor Centre as your base, you can access a number of woodland walks suitable for all abilities, through mixed conifer woodlands, as well as picturesque views of Achany Glen, the River Shin and the Falls of Shin.

Now head back to Bonar Bridge, this time following the A949 around the north shore of the Dornoch Firth to the A9, turn north for about 1 mile to rejoin the A949 for 2 mls to Dornoch.

4.  Dornoch hit the world headlines when Madonna chose this idyllic setting for her marriage to Guy Ritchie, the father of her son Rocco, who was Christened in the Cathedral the evening before the wedding.

Dornoch boasts some fine buildings including Scotland’s smallest Cathedral built by the Bishop of Caithness in 1224 paying for it himself. There is also a bishop's palace (now a hotel), courthouse and old town jail. Sandstone cottages and town houses line its peaceful streets and lanes. Dornoch has some excellent descriptive plaques that help you unravel the past, as well as the History Links Trail which takes you through the streets and nearby countryside.

5.  Leaving Dornoch retracing the route to the A9 head south towards Inverness, taking the turning to Invergordon. Here the summer cruise-liners berth, (Tel:01349 852308 for cruise liner info) in the heart of the town the pier is a very short walk from the town centre. Do not miss the superb Invergordon Murals on the side of buildings produced by the Invergordon Off the Wall Group. Each mural is carefully selected after consultation with the townsfolk and the building owner. A booklet explaining the murals can be purchased from local shops.
 

Day Drive, East of Inverness / Day Drive, North of Inverness / Day Drive, West of Inverness