Chanonry Point, Fortrose

Today it is not unusual in the summer months to see a crowd of people at the water's edge at Chanonry Point in Fortrose, peering out to sea for hours on end, apparently at nothing. They are, of course hoping to catch a glimpse of the bottlenose dolphins which inhabit the Moray Firth.

Of course, crowds of people at Chanonry Point is nothing new. Since very early times a ferry service existed from the Point to the Fort George headland.  In the 13^th and early 14^th centuries workmen employed in building Fortrose Cathedral would have used the ferry. The route became known as the 'Royal Route' when James IV (1488-1513) used it several times on his pilgrimage visits to the shrine of St Duthac in Tain.

A regular ferry service was maintained across the firth right up until 1932 when the ferryman, Alexander McLean, died. Despite some attempts to keep the ferry running, lack of demand led to its closure.