ACCESS BY ROADS TO ROSS-SHIRE
An excellent road exists from Inverness, by way of the Kessock Bridge, over the Black Isle, and the Cromarty Bridge, meaning that getting to Tain takes little more than 40 minutes.
From Tain, roads radiate outwards like the spokes of a wheel towards the villages of Portmahomack, Balintore, and Edderton, which are all worthy of a visit. With the newly built bridge over the Dornoch Firth, Dornoch and its beautiful Cathedral are only minutes away from Tain. And then there are the views !
If the weather is nice, a return route from Dornoch should really be by way of the Tourist Route, through the villages of Clashmore, Spinningdale, Bonar Bridge, Ardgay (detour to Carbisdale Castle - SYHA - and Croick Church, recalling memories from the Highland Clearances) and Edderton. If you take a turn off there (Edderton) to the left (north) at the cross roads, the road passes a 10 feet high Pictish stone in the middle of a field on the left hand side. The stone is inscribed with a fish symbol. The road is quite narrow and you may wish to turn south again. If you do continue, the road is about 4 miles long and comes back onto the main road about 1 mile north of Edderton.
TAIN WEATHER
Tain has a mean annual rainfall of only 24 inches compared with 40 or so inches at some of the popular English Resorts. The climate is generally mild and the air unpolluted.
The smell of the heather, broom and gorse are transported by the prevailing south west wind in summer.
The Moray Firth, despite its northerly latitude has often been called the Scottish Riviera. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream swinging into the Firth, combine with the mountain ranges to the south and west to form a meteorological enclave of low rainfall, high sunshine totals, and less winter snow than the surrounding regions.
SPORT IN TAIN
GOLF: Tain has one of the finest and most interesting 18 hole golf courses in Scotland. The Tain river winds its way between the greens of the 6,246 yard course. There is usually no crowding or waiting to get on the course Tel: 01862 892314 for further details.
FISHING
Sea and loch fishing are both available. There is excellent trout fishing to be had at Locheye near Fearn. It is set in beautiful surroundings and no matter what the conditions, it affords excellent sport. The Salmon fishing season normally runs from February until the end of September or even October
BOWLING AND TENNIS
There is a well established bowling green to which visitors return year after year is near to Tain Railway Station . The green is open from 2pm - 4pm and from 6.30pm from May to September.
Carpet bowls are played in the winter months.
The Tennis Club, with an enthusiastic membership hold their Annual Open Tournament in August, when there is a very large turnout of locals and other expert players
THE IMMORTAL SIR WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832)
Ask at Glenmorangie Distillery, or visit their website, and get the truth or fiction of the large boulder on the opposite side of the A9 road. Personally, I like the fiction best.
Diverging from the subject somewhat, as I do; with the new Scottish Parliament being in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and the Right Honorable Donald DEWAR being appointed its First Minister in May 1999, it occurs to me that whilst travelling south you will cross the Forth Road Bridge opened on 4th September 1964 by Queen Elizabeth II
You will also see The Forth Rail Bridge formally opened by The Prince of Wales on 5th March,1890, one of the wonders of the world!! And wait for the "Millennium display" when you can view scenes in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Belfast and Waterford and other places. Click on the Link above.
Pictures of these can be seen now.
Last Update: 14th July 2000
