Avoch is a harbour-village located on the south-east coast of the Black Isle, on the Moray Firth. Ormond Castle or Avoch Castle was a stronghold built on the site and also served as a royal 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. Offspring of Archibald, were to take the title of Earl of Ormonde from the castle. Tale has it that the village was founded by survivors of the Spanish Armada. Avoch was in the control of David Chalmers, Lord Ormond from 1560/61 however he waived his castle and control of Avoch in 1568 when he was exiled due to his part in aiding the escape of Mary Queen of Scots. The castle and village after that passed to Andrew Munro of Milntown. Intrepid Scottish-Canadian traveler Sir Alexander Mackenzie, the first European to explore the excellent Canadian river currently called the Mackenzie River, going across North America twice, to the Arctic Ocean in 1789 and Pacific Ocean in 1793, retired to Avoch in 1812 where he died in 1820 and was buried in the old Avoch Church cemetery. Avoch was the place of Rosehaugh (Pittanochtie) Home, an imposing mansion house until it was destroyed in 1959. A significant home fed on this site since 1790. Craigie Well at Avoch on the Black Isle has offerings of both coins as well as clouties. Dustcloths, wool and also human hair were additionally made use of as charms versus sorcery, and also as symbols of penenace and fulfilment of an oath (Sharp 1998). Much of Avoch's wealth has actually originated from its angling market, as well as it continues to be a significant factor to the village economic situation, with a number of huge fishing boats had or crewed from Avoch and also an active fishermen's co-operative based there. The harbour is no more made use of by the larger watercrafts for landing however is made use of by recreation craft as well as boats taking visitors to see the dolphins in the inner Moray Firth at Chanonry Factor. Along with the angling sector, commuting to Inverness and tourist offer income to the village. Lazy Corner, named for the children who gathered there to pass the time, has been relocated by the road widening in the Eighties, and also fixed up by a sculpture intended to add character to the village. It is still a meeting place.