| 1. A circular leisure road route, on B and country roads, that climbs and falls at various points.
Starting at Tain, the route heads south west and climbs, from the agricultural land into the higher ground with trees and heather, before going back down to Kildary. On more level ground now you pass through the fertile farmlands as you head for the eastern end of the Cromarty Firth on the B9175. There is an RSPB hide on the shore of Nigg Bay, on your right as you approach the Nigg Oil Terminal. The terminal is where North Sea oil, from the Beatrice Field, is processed, before onward shipment from the nearby jetty. There is an option to carry on to the end of the B9175 towards the ferry terminal for the Nigg-Cromarty ferry. Our route, however, takes a left, towards Nigg, and climbs gently to a raised beach, passing the old Nigg church and graveyard on the left. Eventually we turn right towards the village of Shandwick, passing the ancient Shandwick Stone, which is in a glass case on your left, before the run down into the village. There are actually three villages here, Shandwick, Balintore and Hilton, known as the Seaboard villages. There are one or two shops and hotels here and a harbour. In Hilton the route takes a short steep climb back up to the cliff top, then a right turn onto the B9165, towards Portmahomack. We turn left at Tarrel, but there is the option to carry straight on to Portmahomack, or carry on beyond the village towards Tarbat Ness. After Tarrel the route heads west, via Balnagall to Tain, through farmland. It then drops down to the old military airport, for a long straight and level road. You then cross the railway line and climb back up into the ancient town of Tain. There is a museum in Tain, and a display telling of the ancient kings of Scotland's visits to this place. |