Regional Information
Until the county of Ross & Cromarty was created in the 1880s, Cromarty was the county town of Cromartyshire. Surrounded by the fertile farmlands of the Black Isle (which takes its name from the appearance of the rich, dark soil), Cromarty’s prosperity through the ages has come as much from the sea as from the land, beginning with its importance as a ferry crossing on the 14th century pilgrimage route to the shrine of St Duthac in Tain. The town was a Royal Burgh until 1685 but continued to thrive even after this status was lost, profiting from thriving merchant activity in grain, fish, and later, textiles, and reaching the peak of its prosperity in the c18th. A period of decline followed, but in the 19th century it was a major emigration point with ships sailing to North America and Australia. During both World Wars, Cromarty was an important naval base, and the sea-faring economy continues today with the construction and maintenance of oil rigs carried out in the Cromarty Firth.
In recent years Cromarty has attracted visitors, drawn by the beautiful historic buildings, the countryside, and the flora and fauna, including the world famous population of bottlenose dolphins. The town is home to around 800 people.
