Actress Penelope Keith to launch Cromarty to Nigg ferry

BBC – An historic ferry service on the Cromarty Firth in the Scottish Highlands is due to be relaunched next week. A new, larger vessel, which can carry four cars rather than just two, has been specially built for the short crossing from Cromarty to Nigg. The previous ferry last sailed during the summer months [...]

US band who toured with Bob Dylan set for Cromarty gig

Press and Journal – A band from the US that took its name from one of the toughest gangs to roam the streets of New York is coming to the douce conservation town of Cromarty. The Wiyos, who play the Cromarty Old Brewery on Sunday, March 20, are proving popular and already the venue has [...]

New bus link is agreed for Black Isle

Ross-Shire Journal – A NEW public bus service linking Cromarty to Dingwall is set to take to the road this spring after a successful consultation with Black Isle locals. Around 45 residents gathered for a public meeting at the end of January to hear from Stagecoach about their proposals for a route which would take [...]

Town to toast new brewery!

North Star – A young entrepreneur, Craig Middleton (23), has plans to set up a micro-brewery, the Cromarty Brewery Company at Davidston just outside the town, which will provide three full-time jobs. Mr Middleton’s plans were this week given a boost with the award of a £128,442 of funding from the Scottish Government’s Rural Priorities [...]

Rare whisky fetches £100,000

Guardian.co.uk – It is enough to make you spill your drink. But at more than £3,500 a dram or £7,000 for a double, you wouldn’t want to waste a drop of Dalmore 64 – or worse still, pick up the tab at the bar. Whyte & Mackay has set a new record for the industry, [...]

New Cromarty ferry arrives after long trip from south

Press and Journal – THE new Cromarty ferry arrived in her home port yesterday evening after a long trip from the shipbuilders in Southampton. The Cromarty Queen, with Cromarty Ferry Company managing director Tom Henderson at the helm, sailed into the Black Isle port ahead of schedule after benefiting from easterly tail winds.

Gift to museum in memory of Hugh Miller descendants

BBC – An anonymous £600,000 donation to a museum was made in memory of a geologist’s great-great-granddaughters, the building’s owners have said. The gift was given to the National Trust for Scotland-owned Hugh Miller Museum and Birthplace Cottage in Cromarty last month. The trust said it was made in memory of Miller’s descendants Marian, Bright [...]

Mystery donor gives £600,000 to museum

Press and Journal – A mystery donor gave £600,000 to the Hugh Miller museum and birthplace cottage in Cromarty last weekend. Property owners the National Trust for Scotland received the donation which the anonymous backer insisted was spent on the house of the famous geologist and writer. The gift coincides with the appointment on Saturday [...]

Big plans for the new Cromarty Queen.

Ross-Shire Journal – THE delay-hit new Cromarty Firth ferry is set to begin operation later this month with ambitious plans to attract thousands of extra passengers next summer season, it was revealed this week. The finishing touches are being carried out on the brand new vessel, Cromarty Queen, in Southampton and it is expected to [...]

Black Isle Words Festival to mark 10 years

BBC – The Black Isle Words Festival is to mark its 10th year. The theme for the event, held in Cromarty from 10-12 September, will be Where the Wild Things Are. Speakers include naturalist Sir John Lister-Kaye, writer Linda Cracknell and children’s book writer and illustrator Mairi Hedderwick. Dr Fiona Thompson will talk about the [...]

Cromarty Firth test for Jumbo wings-sized wave device

BBC – Early stage testing to develop a wave energy device measuring as wide as 747-300 Jumbo jet’s wingspan is set to get under way in a Highlands firth. AWS Ocean Energy will build one part of the machine, a full-scale pumping cell, and test it on the Cromarty Firth. The Inverness company is already [...]

Rhubarb-flavoured vodka hits the royal mark

Press and Journal – THE Duke of Rothesay expressed a liking for rhubarb-flavoured vodka when he sampled food and drink from across the Highlands at a farmers’ market on the banks of the Cromarty Firth. The unusual tipple and some smoked salmon were among the delicacies Prince Charles tasted at the Storehouse of Foulis yesterday. [...]

‘Problem sheets’ aim to improve bus service

Ross-Shire Journal – A BELEAGUERED bus company which has been at the centre of a string of complaints over its poor service has come under fire yet again, this time from angry Black Isle residents. Now, folk living in Cromarty will be given the chance to have their say and let operators Stagecoach know exactly [...]

Black Isle brothers in wind power bid to cut their farming overheads

Press and Journal – Two farming brothers on the Black Isle are optimistic that a handful of 50ft-high wind turbines will save them thousands of pounds a year on their electricity bills. William and Donald Campbell have applied to Highland Council for permission to plant three of the 15kilowatt machines at Newton Farm, Cromarty – [...]

Researchers want to listen to dolphins

Press and Journal – Researchers want to drop 76 acoustic monitoring devices into the Moray Firth to find out if windfarm construction and boat traffic bother dolphins, porpoises and whales. A team of Cromarty-based Aberdeen University biologists have applied to the Scottish Government for a licence to launch the monitoring project next month.

Moor fire water bombed by helicopter

STV – A helicopter has been used to drop water bombs on a moor fire which broke out in the Highlands. Witnesses have reported seeing smoke from the blaze at Sutors of Cromarty could be seen across the Moray Firth in Nairn.

Pilot whales come in close at Cromarty

Press and Journal – A pod of up to 100 pilot whales frolicked in the water off Cromarty yesterday in a spectacle described as “amazing” by experts. The huge cetaceans, which can be up to 20ft, are normally found in the deep water of the North Atlantic, around Faroe, Iceland and off the coast of [...]

Over 200 jobs secured in Invergordon

STV – More than 200 jobs have been secured in the Highlands after the lease for a major new plant was fast-tracked through. Global Energy Group’s Isleburn subsidiary is to move out of its existing base at Nigg fabrication yard by the end of May.

Winner of treasure hunt claims £10,000 mouse

Press and Journal – A BEJEWELLED mouse worth £10,000 which was the focus of a year-long treasure hunt in Scotland was hidden at a Ross-shire beauty spot, it was revealed at the weekend.

Fire breaks out on moored oil rig

STV – An investigation is under way after a blaze broke out on an oil rig moored in the Cromarty Firth in Invergordon. The fire started at around 1.50pm on Tuesday afternoon on Transocean’s John Shaw semi-submersible rig.

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