Avoch
Avoch is a harbour-village located on the south-east shore of the Black Isle, on the Moray Firth. Ormond Castle or Avoch Castle was a stronghold built on the site and served as an imperial castle to William the Lion; handed down to the Morays of Petty then Archibald the Grim, Lord of Galloway, upon his marriage to Joanna de Moravia in 1362. Descendants of Archibald, were to take the title of Earl of Ormonde from the castle. Legend has it that the village was founded by survivors of the Spanish Armada. Avoch remained in the control of David Chalmers, Lord Ormond from 1560/61 but he surrendered his castle as well as control of Avoch in 1568 when he was banished because of his component in assisting the escape of Mary Queen of Scots. The castle as well as village after that passed to Andrew Munro of Milntown. Intrepid Scottish-Canadian traveler Sir Alexander Mackenzie, the initial European to explore the wonderful Canadian river currently known as the Mackenzie River, crossing The United States and Canada two times, to the Arctic Ocean in 1789 as well as Pacific Sea in 1793, retired to Avoch in 1812 where he passed away in 1820 and also was buried in the old Avoch Parish cemetery. Avoch was the area of Rosehaugh (Pittanochtie) Residence, an imposing mansion house up until it was demolished in 1959. A considerable home existed on this site because 1790. Craigie Well at Avoch on the Black Island has offerings of both coins and also clouties. Rags, wool and also human hair were additionally used as beauties against sorcery, and also as tokens of penenace as well as fulfilment of an oath (Sharp 1998). Much of Avoch's wide range has originated from its fishing sector, and it continues to be a significant contributor to the village economic situation, with several large angling boats possessed or crewed from Avoch and an active fishermen's co-operative based there. The harbour is no longer utilized by the larger boats for landing however is used by recreation craft and also boats taking visitors to see the dolphins in the internal Moray Firth at Chanonry Point. In addition to the fishing market, commuting to Inverness as well as tourism give income to the town. Lazy Corner, named for the youngsters that collected there to pass the time, has actually been moved by the road widening in the Eighties, and beautified by a sculpture planned to include personality to the village. It is still a meeting place.