The Paye, Cromarty

Walk down this narrow cobbled street in Cromarty and you will be following in the footsteps of the pilgrims who used to journey to the shrine of St Duthac in Tain. It forms part of the old highway known as the 'Paye'.

St Duthuc is said to have been born in Tain around 1000 AD. A chapel was built on the site of his birth to house his relics. These included the saint's head and breastbone, his shirt, cup, bell and staff. His bones were said to have curative powers and his shirt was claimed to protect against injury. Unfortunately these relics were lost at the time of the Reformation (1560).

Pilgrims would make regular visits to Tain to view the saint's relics and it became one of the principal pilgrimage places in Scotland. James IV (r.1488-1513) is known to have travelled this route regularly, the last time just before his death at the Battle of Flodden.

Arriving at the Cromarty shore, the pilgrims would take the 'King's Ferry' to Dunskeath, site of an early royal castle established by William I (r.1165-1214). From there they would travel on to St Duthac's Chapel in Tain.