Chanonry Point Lighthouse

Chanonry Point juts into the Moray Firth between Fortrose and Rosemarkie on the Black Isle. A narrow spit of land ends at Chanonry Ness, where the land meets the sea. The spit shelters the firth and shapes the strong tidal currents that draw wildlife close to shore. The lighthouse at the tip was designed by Alan Stevenson and first lit in 1846. It has been fully automated since 1984 and is run by the Northern Lighthouse Board. Chanonry Point is one of the best places in the UK to see bottlenose dolphins from land. They gather to feed when salmon return on the incoming tide. Porpoises and grey seals are often seen nearby, while otters visit occasionally. A path runs along the Rosemarkie side to the point, where the lighthouse stands. The Ness holds two camping sites and Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club covers most of the promontory. The memorial stone to Coinneach Odhar marks the spot where the Brahan Seer was executed. The exposed point offers sweeping views of the firth and its wildlife.