Cromarty Firth
Encyclopedia
The Cromarty Firth is an arm of the North Sea
in Scotland
. It is the middle of the three sea lochs at the head of the Moray Firth
: to the north lies the Dornoch Firth
, and to the south the Beauly Firth
.
The entrance to the Cromarty Firth is guarded by two precipitous rocks — the one on the north 400 feet (121.92 m) high and the one on the south 463 feet (141.12 m) high — called "The Sutors" from a fancied resemblance to a couple of shoemakers
(in Scots
, souters) bent over their last
s. From the Sutors the Firth extends inland in a westerly and then south-westerly direction for a distance of 19 miles (30.6 kilometres). Excepting between Nigg Bay and Cromarty Bay where it is about 5 miles (8 kilometres) wide, and Alness Bay where it is 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) wide, it has an average width of 1 mile (1.6 kilometre). The southern shore of the Firth is formed by a peninsula known as the Black Isle
. The best view of the whole Firth is from the top of Fyrish.
At its head the Firth receives its principal river, the River Conon
, and other streams it receives include the Allt Graad
, Coruon, Peffery, Sgitheach
and Alness
. The Dingwall Canal
remains connected to the Firth, although it is now disused. The principal settlements on its shores are Dingwall
near the head, Cromarty
near the mouth (from which the Firth takes its name), and Invergordon
in between. The villages of Evanton
, Alness
and Culbokie
are nearby.
The Firth forms one of the safest and most commodious anchorages in the north of Scotland and Invergordon
was once at one time a major base for the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. The Firth was the scene of the Invergordon Mutiny
in 1931. Remnants of the Navy remain, such as the disused airfield
near Evanton (now an industrial estate) which was built to take aircraft from the fleet carriers while they were at anchor. During World War II
, there was a large training and operational base for Catalina
amphibians and Sunderland
seaplanes, which extended from Invergordon
to Alness point - also now an industrial estate. A memorial to the men who were killed on operational missions was placed at this industrial estate in 2001. A propeller from a Catalina was found and restored by RAF apprentices and now resides in the town of Alness
. The tennis courts on the industrial estate are the only remaining parts of the estate which date from World War II.
The firth
is a designated as a Special Protection Area
for wildlife conservation purposes. There is one bridge, the A9 road bridge, most of which is a causeway. In the past there were several ferries across the firth (for example at Foulis) but now there is only one, a two-car ferry
that runs between Cromarty
and Nigg
during the summer.
is an important North Sea oil centre. Former Halliburton
subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root
owns the 170 acre (0.6879662 km²) fabrication yard south of the settlement of Nigg. This is an important North Sea oil centre with a dry dock
for repairing and fabricating oil platform
s. The yard was opened in 1972 as a joint venture between Brown & Root (as it then was) and construction giant George Wimpey
. Today the yard is known as KBR Caledonia Ltd.
In late 2004, KBR was named as a possible "physical integrator" for the Royal Navy
future aircraft carrier
, in this role it was to manage the "carrier alliance"; BAE Systems
, Thales
and the UK Ministry of Defence
. Following suggestions that KBR wished to assemble the two 60,000 tonne vessels at its Nigg Yard the MoD stated that whatever KBR's involvement assembly would take place at Rosyth
.
Elsewhere along the firth are facilities for cruise ships, oil processing, and other maritime activities.
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is the middle of the three sea lochs at the head of the Moray Firth
Moray 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...
: to the north lies the Dornoch Firth
Dornoch Firth
The Dornoch Firth is a firth on the east coast of Highland, in northern Scotland. It forms part of the boundary between Ross and Cromarty, to the south, and Sutherland, to the north....
, and to the south 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...
.
The entrance to the Cromarty Firth is guarded by two precipitous rocks — the one on the north 400 feet (121.92 m) high and the one on the south 463 feet (141.12 m) high — called "The Sutors" from a fancied resemblance to a couple of shoemakers
Shoemaking
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or...
(in Scots
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
, souters) bent over their last
Last
A last is a form in the approximate shape of a human foot, used by shoemakers and cordwainers in the manufacture and repair of shoes. Lasts typically come in pairs, and throughout their history have been made from many materials, including hardwoods, cast iron, and, more recently, high density...
s. From the Sutors the Firth extends inland in a westerly and then south-westerly direction for a distance of 19 miles (30.6 kilometres). Excepting between Nigg Bay and Cromarty Bay where it is about 5 miles (8 kilometres) wide, and Alness Bay where it is 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) wide, it has an average width of 1 mile (1.6 kilometre). The southern shore of the Firth is formed by a peninsula known as the Black Isle
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"....
. The best view of the whole Firth is from the top of Fyrish.
At its head the Firth receives its principal river, the River Conon
River Conon
The River Conon is a river in the Highlands of Scotland. It begins at Loch Luichart, and flows in a south-easterly direction to be joined by the River Meig at Scatwell before passing through Loch Achonachie...
, and other streams it receives include the Allt Graad
Allt Graad
Allt Graad is a river in Easter Ross, Highland, Scotland. It is named on Ordnance Survey maps variously as Allt Graad and River Glass. It has also been known as the "Allt Grande", and the archaic Anglicization, "Aultgraad"....
, Coruon, Peffery, Sgitheach
River Sgitheach
River Sgitheach also known as Skiach or Skiack, is a river in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland...
and Alness
Alness
Alness is a town and civil parish in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. It lies near the Cromarty Firth, with the town of Invergordon to the east and the village of Evanton to the south west...
. The Dingwall Canal
Dingwall Canal
The Dingwall Canal was a short tidal canal running from the town of Dingwall to the Cromarty Firth in the county of Ross and Cromarty, Scotland...
remains connected to the Firth, although it is now disused. The principal settlements on its shores are Dingwall
Dingwall
Dingwall is a town and former royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,026. It was formerly an east-coast harbor but now lies inland. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north of Stirling. On the town's present-day outskirts lies Tulloch Castle, parts...
near the head, Cromarty
Cromarty
The Royal Burgh of Cromarty is a burgh in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland.-History:It was previously the county town of the former county of Cromartyshire...
near the mouth (from which the Firth takes its name), and Invergordon
Invergordon
Invergordon is a town and port in Easter Ross, in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland.-History:The town is well known for the Invergordon Mutiny of 1931. More recently it was also known for the repair of oil rigs which used to be lined up in the Cromarty Firth on which the town is situated...
in between. The villages of Evanton
Evanton
Evanton is a large village in Easter Ross, in the Highland Council Area of Scotland. It lies between the river Sgitheach and the Allt Graad, is north of the city of Inverness, some south-west of Alness, and north-east of Dingwall. The village has a dozen or so streets, the main one being...
, Alness
Alness
Alness is a town and civil parish in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. It lies near the Cromarty Firth, with the town of Invergordon to the east and the village of Evanton to the south west...
and Culbokie
Culbokie
Culbokie is a small village in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland, located on the north side of the Black Isle. The village is 3.5 miles north-east of Dingwall and about 12 miles north of Inverness. There is one school, a shop/post office, a public house and Findon Hall...
are nearby.
Invergordon
Invergordon is a town and port in Easter Ross, in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland.-History:The town is well known for the Invergordon Mutiny of 1931. More recently it was also known for the repair of oil rigs which used to be lined up in the Cromarty Firth on which the town is situated...
was once at one time a major base for the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. The Firth was the scene of the Invergordon Mutiny
Invergordon Mutiny
The Invergordon Mutiny was an industrial action by around 1,000 sailors in the British Atlantic Fleet, that took place on 15–16 September 1931...
in 1931. Remnants of the Navy remain, such as the disused airfield
HMS Fieldfare
HMS Fieldfare, also known as RNAS Evanton and later as RAF Evanton, is a disused airfield in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. It lies on the shore of the Cromarty Firth near the village of Evanton....
near Evanton (now an industrial estate) which was built to take aircraft from the fleet carriers while they were at anchor. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, there was a large training and operational base for Catalina
PBY Catalina
The Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other...
amphibians and Sunderland
Short Sunderland
The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers. It took its service name from the town and port of Sunderland in northeast England....
seaplanes, which extended from Invergordon
Invergordon
Invergordon is a town and port in Easter Ross, in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland.-History:The town is well known for the Invergordon Mutiny of 1931. More recently it was also known for the repair of oil rigs which used to be lined up in the Cromarty Firth on which the town is situated...
to Alness point - also now an industrial estate. A memorial to the men who were killed on operational missions was placed at this industrial estate in 2001. A propeller from a Catalina was found and restored by RAF apprentices and now resides in the town of Alness
Alness
Alness is a town and civil parish in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. It lies near the Cromarty Firth, with the town of Invergordon to the east and the village of Evanton to the south west...
. The tennis courts on the industrial estate are the only remaining parts of the estate which date from World War II.
The firth
Firth
Firth is the word in the Lowland Scots language and in English used to denote various coastal waters in Scotland and England. In mainland Scotland it is used to describe a large sea bay, or even a strait. In the Northern Isles it more usually refers to a smaller inlet...
is a designated as a Special Protection Area
Special Protection Area
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.Together with Special...
for wildlife conservation purposes. There is one bridge, the A9 road bridge, most of which is a causeway. In the past there were several ferries across the firth (for example at Foulis) but now there is only one, a two-car ferry
Cromarty Rose
MV Cromarty Rose a small vehicle ferry operating a summer service across the Cromarty Firth.-History:MV Cromarty Rose is the smallest car ferry in the UK, and the only ferry serving the Black Isle, crossing the Cromarty Firth between Nigg and Cromarty...
that runs between Cromarty
Cromarty
The Royal Burgh of Cromarty is a burgh in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland.-History:It was previously the county town of the former county of Cromartyshire...
and Nigg
Nigg, Highland
Nigg is a village and parish on the north east shore of Nigg Bay in north east Ross-shire and is in the Scottish council area of Highland...
during the summer.
Oil industry
The settlement of NiggNigg Bay
Nigg Bay is a large relatively shallow sandy bay, consisting of mudflat, saltmarsh and wet grassland, located at the north east coast of the Cromarty Firth and is 5 miles to the east of Invergordon, in the district of Ross and Cromarty and is in the Scottish council area of Highland.During low...
is an important North Sea oil centre. Former Halliburton
Halliburton
Halliburton is the world's second largest oilfield services corporation with operations in more than 70 countries. It has hundreds of subsidiaries, affiliates, branches, brands and divisions worldwide and employs over 50,000 people....
subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root
Kellogg, Brown and Root
KBR, Inc. is an American engineering, construction and private military contracting company, formerly a subsidiary of Halliburton, headquartered in Houston. The company also has large offices in Arlington, Birmingham, Newark, Delaware and Leatherhead, UK. After Halliburton acquired Dresser...
owns the 170 acre (0.6879662 km²) fabrication yard south of the settlement of Nigg. This is an important North Sea oil centre with a dry dock
Dry dock
A drydock is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform...
for repairing and fabricating oil platform
Oil platform
An oil platform, also referred to as an offshore platform or, somewhat incorrectly, oil rig, is a lаrge structure with facilities to drill wells, to extract and process oil and natural gas, and to temporarily store product until it can be brought to shore for refining and marketing...
s. The yard was opened in 1972 as a joint venture between Brown & Root (as it then was) and construction giant George Wimpey
George Wimpey
George Wimpey was formed in 1880 and, based in Hammersmith, operated largely as a road surfacing contractor. The business was acquired by Godfrey Mitchell in 1919 and he developed it into the UK’s pre-eminent construction and housebuilding firm. In 2007, Wimpey merged with Taylor Woodrow to create...
. Today the yard is known as KBR Caledonia Ltd.
In late 2004, KBR was named as a possible "physical integrator" for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
future aircraft carrier
Royal Navy CVF programme
The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers are a two-ship class of aircraft carrier being built for the Royal Navy. HMS Queen Elizabeth is expected to enter service in 2016 and HMS Prince of Wales in 2020. HMS Queen Elizabeth will not be built to a CATOBAR configuration, but the second ship HMS...
, in this role it was to manage the "carrier alliance"; BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
, Thales
Thales Group
The Thales Group is a French electronics company delivering information systems and services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets...
and the UK Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
. Following suggestions that KBR wished to assemble the two 60,000 tonne vessels at its Nigg Yard the MoD stated that whatever KBR's involvement assembly would take place at Rosyth
Rosyth
Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....
.
Elsewhere along the firth are facilities for cruise ships, oil processing, and other maritime activities.