Dingwall's Historic Trail

Dingwall is one of the smallest chartered burghs in Britain. Granted its burgh rights by Alexander in 226. The Vikings had their court of justice here on Greenhill at the west end of the town. The young Macbeth (mentioned in Shakespeare's play) is reputed to have lived in the castle and played on the banks of the river Peffery nearby.

You will find a wide range of the services typical of a former County Town with a particularly wide selection of shops from the intriguing to the supermarket, not to mention the interesting choice of places to enjoy a meal. A recent innovation is the farmers’ market in the pedestrianised High Street on the second Saturday of each month.

To help you explore Dingwall’s History we have put together a short Historic Trail. To down load the Dingwall Historic Trail PDF leaflet. It will take you approximately 2 hours, if you decide to walk to the Hector MacDonald Memorial (see item 7 below). Alternatively you can drive up to the monument taking off about 30 minutes from the tour.

1. Dingwall Museum. This small museum is full of interesting local history. You will find a reconstructed local smiddy (Smithy or black smith's workshop) and kitchen. The volunteer staff are extremely helpful. Open daily mid May to end of September Monday to Saturday 10am to 4.30pm
Tel:01349 865366

2. The Mercat Cross, the ancient symbol that the town had approval to have its own market, is believed to be over 500 years old. It marked the spot of the old market but is now kept in the museum.
3. Dingwall Town House was built in 1733. It is a splendid building in its own right.

4. Dingwall's first purpose built school is across the street from the Town House.

5. Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee was commemorated by placing a plaque on Mansfield House in 1897. Look out for the plaque as you walk down the High Street.

6. Dingwall's Almshouse was to be found on the site of the Royal Hotel, on the corner of High Street and Hill Street.

7. The Hector MacDonald Memorial provides spectacular views of the town. Hector MacDonald, known as 'Fighting Mac', rose through the ranks and made his name at the Battle of Omdurman. A much loved and respected local man, he died in tragic circumstances following false allegations having been made against him. The Battlement tower at the top of Mitchell Hill was erected in his memory.
At the base of the tower you will find two 18 pound smooth bore muzzle-loading naval or garrison guns, which fired an 8.2kg (18lb) ball a maximum range of 1 mile or 1620metres. On entering the memorial you will find a hand-held information board that will give you details on the memorial. To obtain the key contact the staff at the Museum.

8. The Dingwall War Memorial to the fallen in the two great wars, is in front of the Hotel.

9. The South African War Memorial is between Ferry Road and Station Road.

10. The Seaforth Highlanders War Memorial (the local regiment) can be seen outside the Railway Station. This is an unusual memorial in that it incorporates timbers brought back from a first World War battle field, where many Seaforths lost their lives.
Appalling sacrifices were made during the First World War, 147,000 more than one quarter of 558,000 Scottish recruits - died. This figure was double the British average. No other nation in the war lost so many of its sons as Scotland, except Serbia and Turkey who was on the losing side. One of the reasons for the extreme casualties among the Scots lay in the fact that Earl Haig, the commander-in-chief of the British army, himself a Scot, considered the Scottish soldiers to be the best soldiers, as indeed they themselves believed and always turned to them in the most difficult and dangerous conditions.

11. The Castle Doocot (dovecot) is situated at the end of of Castle Street, hence its name. It was built in 1825 using stones from the old castle. Unfortunately this is the nearest you will get to the old castle as it no longer exists.

12. The Dingwall Canal. As ships got larger and larger it was necessary for the survival of Dingwall's harbour that a canal be constructed in 1817 to ensure the larger vessels carrying timber, Grain, and coal were able to travel upstream clear of the mud flats. The arrival of the railway in 1863 saw the end of the canal's use. Today it makes a pleasant walk to Tulloch Street.

13. St Clements, the old parish church was built in 1799 by Davidson of Tulloch after its predecessor was burnt down when Kenneth Bayne took a pot-shot at a pigeon on its thatched roof, setting the thatching alight. Davidson of Tulloch was in dispute with the Kirk Session and he built the church back to front so the main entrance faced Tulloch Castle the Davidson seat.
At the entrance to the churchyard you will see a Class 1 Pictish stone. If you then go round to the church entrance, stand with your back facing the entrance, now look to your left and you will find an ancient cross slab,a flat stone with a cross-marked on it.

14. Dingwall's Library was created as a result of Andrew Carnegie providing £2000 in 1903 for its creation.

Welcome to Dingwall!

Alness / Cromarty / Dingwall