Plough Inn, Rosemarkie

The droving tradition in Scotland has long since vanished but remnants can still be seen dotted throughout the country. Drovers' Inns were popular resting places for drovers on their way to trysts (markets) with their cattle and sheep. From the 17^th to the 19^th centuries these animals were one of the few only cash crops produced in the Highlands and Islands.

Droves could consist of many hundreds of beasts and they might be on the road for many weeks. Drovers followed a network of 'drove roads' or routes converging on the markets. Perhaps the earlier traditions of cattle thieving gave some of the drovers their expertise!

Today many of the drover inns are still used as watering holes but by walkers and tourists. The Plough Inn in Rosemarkie is a former drovers' and travellers' inn which dates from as far back as the 17^th century. In 1907 the publican was a Mr John Robb. He re-built much of the original inn and he also owned 'Mill House' at the foot of Mill Road. He converted this former mill into a laundry for the army stationed at Fort George during the First World War.

The Plough Inn has recently been sold by the Black Isle Brewery to one of the local residents of Rosemarkie. They are keen to point out that the brewery's beers will still be available on tap!