Rosemarkie brings together Pictish and ecclesiastical history with a coastal landscape of beach, stream and glen. When planning your trip, it helps to distinguish between the main attractions: historic churches and Pictish remains offer a cultural perspective, while Fairy Glen, the bay and the paths by the sea offer another. Chanonry Point adds to the coastal experience with opportunities to watch dolphins from the shore.
Pictish Heritage and Ecclesiastical History
The Pictish stones of Rosemarkie belonged to a monastic settlement that flourished until 700 AD. During archaeological excavations in a coastal cave near Rosemarkie on the Black Isle, a skeleton was discovered in 2016 and dated to the Pictish period between 430 and 630 AD. The two dates highlight different things: one refers to a settlement, the other to a find from a cave.
The Groam House Museum preserves the George Bain Collection, which has been officially recognised as being of national significance. It adds another cultural theme to the local history, alongside the Pictish stones and ecclesiastical sites.
The first cathedral church was built in Rosemarkie on the Black Isle. The site of Rosemarkie Parish Church probably has a Christian history dating back to a foundation by St Moluag; the present-day church was completed in 1821. A Class II cross-slab stands in Rosemarkie churchyard. It is 8 feet 6 inches tall and probably dates from around the 9th century. Its height is specified, while its date is explicitly approximate.
Fairy Glen, the Bay and the Coast
Fairy Glen lies on the north-western edge of Rosemarkie. The Rosemarkie Burn flows south-east and empties into Rosemarkie Bay. Part of Fairy Glen is managed as an RSPB nature reserve. The stream, glen and bay offer different points of reference if you would rather spend your time in the landscape than at historic sites.
Rosemarkie has a long sandy beach. The sheltered bay has rock pools to explore. Around twenty old sea caves also lie along the south coast of the Black Isle. This is an approximate number, and the caves are in the wider area around Rosemarkie, so they should not be confused with a single site in the village.
Coastal Walks and Dolphin Watching
Rosemarkie Beach and the adjoining coastline are popular for walking. Paths lead north to the sea cliffs and south along the beach to Chanonry Point. This gives you a clear choice of direction: the cliffs to the north or the beach path to the coastal point in the south.
Chanonry Point is near Rosemarkie and offers opportunities to watch dolphins from the shore. Resident bottlenose dolphins regularly come close to shore as they swim through the strait or search for food. This describes recurring behaviour, not a guarantee of a sighting on every visit. If dolphins are important to your trip planning, you can combine this coastal attraction with the beach paths; the paths to the north, by contrast, lead to the sea cliffs.
Discover more destinations: Bonar Bridge, Dunvegan, Croick, Auchlunachan, Glenelg, Castletown, Glenfinnan, Latheron
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