Avoch
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 improved the site and functioned as an imperial castle to William the Lion; passed on to the Morays of Petty then Archibald the Grim, Lord of Galloway, upon his marital relationship 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 town was founded by survivors of the Spanish Armada. Avoch was in the control of David Chalmers, Lord Ormond from 1560/61 however he forfeited his castle as well as control of Avoch in 1568 when he was ousted because of his component in helping the escape of Mary Queen of Scots. The castle as well as village then passed to Andrew Munro of Milntown. Intrepid Scottish-Canadian explorer Sir Alexander Mackenzie, the very first European to discover the excellent Canadian river now known as the Mackenzie River, crossing North America two times, to the Arctic Ocean in 1789 and also Pacific Ocean in 1793, retired to Avoch in 1812 where he died in 1820 as well as was buried in the old Avoch Parish churchyard. Avoch was the location of Rosehaugh (Pittanochtie) Residence, an enforcing mansion house until it was knocked down in 1959. A substantial residence fed on this site since 1790. Craigie Well at Avoch on the Black Isle has offerings of both coins and also clouties. Dustcloths, woollen as well as human hair were likewise utilized as appeals against sorcery, and also as tokens of penenace as well as fulfilment of a pledge (Sharp 1998). Much of Avoch's riches has actually originated from its angling industry, and it continues to be a significant factor to the village economy, with a number of big fishing boats owned or crewed from Avoch and an active fishermen's co-operative based there. The harbour is no longer used by the larger watercrafts for landing however is used by recreation craft as well as boats taking site visitors to see the dolphins in the internal Moray Firth at Chanonry Factor. Along with the fishing industry, commuting to Inverness and tourist offer earnings to the village. Lazy Corner, called for the children who gathered there to pass the time, has been moved by the roadway widening in the Eighties, and beautified by a sculpture meant to add character to the town. It is still a gathering place.