Invergordon Cromarty Firth Ferry
The Cromarty Firth is a natural deep water harbour off the north side of the Moray Firth. The entrance is guarded by the North and South "Sutors", both of about 600 feet in elevation. The hills are formed of red sandstone rocks which are well known in the north east of Scotland as a distinctive building stone. An old quarry exists at the top of the North Soutor. On either of the Sutors, a good vantage point can be gained to view the passing cruise liners. Additionally, you can see the gun emplacements on both hills, guarding the entrance built between 1912 and 1914, and backed up by searchlights. The gun emplacements replaced the small primitive batteries built there in 1709. The Firth was formed, geologically, at the same time that the Great Glen was created, between 1,200 and 800 million years ago, should you wish to know! As early at 1653, the Firth was recognised as a place where "ten thousand ships may within it ride in the greatest tempest. The waters remain free of ice which makes it a good place of shelter". The Firth was criss-crossed with ferries. The earliest documented ferry was that from Nigg to Cromarty, which still runs today. As late as 1825, depending on the state of the tide, passengers at this ferry were brought ashore in the traditional Highland manner, on the backs of women who waded out to meet the boat It didn't just Cromarty Firth region was potentially one of the richest agricultural areas in Scotland. Various land "improvers" came into the area, reclaiming tidal land bordering the Firth, draining that land and creating piers - Thomas Telford in 1818 at Invergordon Ferry, and someone else in 1828. The law required land owners to plant forestry and penalties were imposed for the unlawful cutting of 'greene timbre'. Ships of between 400 and 500 tons could lie safely in the harbour. The Union of Scotland and England took place in 1707 and now, nearly three hundred years on, Scotland is to have it's o
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