North Kessock
Encyclopedia
North Kessock is a village on the Black Isle
north of Inverness
.
. Now by-passed by the main road to the north (the A9), the village remains quiet. Its counterpart across the Beauly Firth
, South Kessock
, is a district of Inverness
.
.
The Kessock Ferry
connected North and South Kessock until 1982, when the Kessock Bridge
was completed and opened.
- indeed they are the most northerly group of bottlenose dolphins in the world. The Dolphin and Seal Centre, just north of the village (off the A9 road), is run by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
. It is located in the Tourist Information car park, where there is also the Ralía Café or alternatively can be reached by a steep path leading from the village shop. The charity also runs the Wildlife Centre at Spey Bay
.
Black Isle
The Black Isle is an eastern area of the Highland local government council area of Scotland, within the county of Ross and Cromarty. The name nearly always includes the article "the"....
north of Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
.
Description
North Kessock is the first village encountered over the Kessock BridgeKessock Bridge
The Kessock Bridge carries the A9 trunk road across the Beauly Firth at Inverness.-Description:The Kessock Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge across the Beauly Firth, an inlet of the Moray Firth, between the village of North Kessock and the city of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.The bridge has a...
. Now by-passed by the main road to the north (the A9), the village remains quiet. Its counterpart across the Beauly Firth
Beauly Firth
The Beauly Firth is a firth in northern Scotland. It is effectively a continuation of the Moray Firth westward, and is bounded at one end by Beauly and at the other by Inverness . The Kessock Ferry has crossed at the eastern end since the 15th Century...
, South Kessock
South Kessock
South Kessock is an area of the city of Inverness in Scotland.It is to the north of Merkinch and is also known, somewhat disparagingly, as the Ferry. Prior to the construction of the Kessock Bridge, the Kessock Ferry sailed between North Kessock and here.South Kessock has featured in two novels by...
, is a district of Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
.
History
North Kessock probably existed as early as 1437, when the Dominican monastery in Inverness was granted a charter to operate a ferry to the Black Isle. This was on the pilgrim route north to St Duthac Church in TainTain
Tain is a royal burgh and post town in the committee area of Ross and Cromarty, in the Highland area of Scotland.-Etymology:...
.
The Kessock Ferry
Kessock Ferry
The Kessock Ferry used to ply between Inverness and the Black Isle, across the Beauly Firth. It was withdrawn on the opening of the Kessock Bridge in 1982.-Service:...
connected North and South Kessock until 1982, when the Kessock Bridge
Kessock Bridge
The Kessock Bridge carries the A9 trunk road across the Beauly Firth at Inverness.-Description:The Kessock Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge across the Beauly Firth, an inlet of the Moray Firth, between the village of North Kessock and the city of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.The bridge has a...
was completed and opened.
Wildlife
North Kessock is a famous spot for watching bottlenose dolphins, which are resident in the Moray FirthMoray Firth
The Moray Firth is a roughly triangular inlet of the North Sea, north and east of Inverness, which is in the Highland council area of north of Scotland...
- indeed they are the most northerly group of bottlenose dolphins in the world. The Dolphin and Seal Centre, just north of the village (off the A9 road), is run by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society is a wildlife charity that is dedicated solely to the worldwide conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins and porpoises...
. It is located in the Tourist Information car park, where there is also the Ralía Café or alternatively can be reached by a steep path leading from the village shop. The charity also runs the Wildlife Centre at Spey Bay
Spey Bay
Spey Bay is a small settlement in Moray, Scotland. It is situated at the eastern side of the mouth of the River Spey on the coast of the Moray Firth between the village of Kingston on the western side of the Spey, and the fishing port of Buckie to the east....
.