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 improved the site and also acted as a royal castle to William the Lion; handed down to the Morays of Petty after that Archibald the Grim, Lord of Galloway, upon his marital relationship 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 town was founded by survivors of the Spanish Armada. Avoch was in the control of David Chalmers, Lord Ormond from 1560/61 but he waived his castle and control of Avoch in 1568 when he was banished as a result of his part in aiding the retreat of Mary Queen of Scots. The castle and also village after that passed to Andrew Munro of Milntown. Intrepid Scottish-Canadian traveler Sir Alexander Mackenzie, the initial European to discover the excellent Canadian river currently referred to as the Mackenzie River, crossing North America twice, to the Arctic Ocean in 1789 and Pacific Ocean in 1793, retired to Avoch in 1812 where he passed away in 1820 and also was hidden in the old Avoch Parish cemetery. Avoch was the location of Rosehaugh (Pittanochtie) Residence, an imposing mansion house till it was destroyed in 1959. A substantial home existed on this site because 1790. Craigie Well at Avoch on the Black Island has offerings of both coins and clouties. Rags, woollen and also human hair were additionally used as beauties against sorcery, and as symbols of penenace and also fulfilment of an oath (Sharp 1998). Much of Avoch's wide range has originated from its fishing industry, as well as it remains a substantial contributor to the village economic situation, with a number of huge fishing boats owned or crewed from Avoch and also an active fishermen's co-operative based there. The harbour is no longer made use of by the larger watercrafts for landing yet is utilized by recreation craft and also watercrafts taking visitors to see the dolphins in the inner Moray Firth at Chanonry Point. In addition to the fishing industry, commuting to Inverness and also tourist supply revenue to the village. Lazy Corner, named for the youngsters who collected there to pass the time, has actually been relocated by the roadway widening in the Eighties, and also spruced up by a sculpture intended to include personality to the town. It is still a meeting place.