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Ross-shire
Ross-shire, Scotland
Ross-shire is a maritime county, stretching from the North Sea to the Atlantic, standing between Inverness-shire and Sutherland.
A mountainous shire of high tops, breath-taking glens, windswept bealachs and two contrasting coasts,
Ross-shire is a Highland county without compromise.
Type: Historic County
Lat, Long: 57.624949,-4.939677
Grid Reference: NH245632
Country: Scotland
Explore Ross-shire on Wikishire
Ross-shire includes the Isle of Lewis, the northern part of the island collectively known as Lewis with Harris, the largest of the Outer Hebrides. Stornoway is an important port and administrative centre with a variety of educational, sporting and media establishments. The interior of Lewis is a large area of moorland from which peat was traditionally cut as fuel. The southern part of Lewis is more mountainous with inland lochs. The island's diverse habitats are home to an assortment of flora and fauna, such as the golden eagle, red deer and seals.
The view across Camas Uig from Cradhlasta, Isle of Lewis
The mainland county is divided into Easter Ross and Wester Ross.
Wester Ross is well known for its spectacular mountain scenery, especially the Torridon Hills which include the peaks Beinn Eighe and Liathach. The county top is Càrn Eighe (3,881 feet) on the border with Inverness-shire. The coast of Wester Ross is deeply indented with craggy sea-lochs reaching between the highlands and with scattered islands. The chief capes include Greenstone Point, Rubha Reidh, and Redpoint.
Rubha Reidh
The sea-lochs include Loch Alsh, almost enclosed between Ross-shire and Skye, and Loch Carron, reaching deep inland to Strathcarron. Eilean Donan is a small tidal island where three sea lochs meet, Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh. Eilean Donan Castle, originally 13th-century but much restored in the 20th century, occupies the island. There are also many freshwater lochs, the largest being Loch Maree. The Falls of Glomach are one of the highest waterfalls in the United Kingdom, falling 370 feet on the little Allt a' Ghlomaich burn.
Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Alsh
Easter Ross is flatter, and consists of towns, villages and farmland bordering the Moray Firth. In the north, the Dornoch Firth separates the county from Sutherland. On the south of the firth is the royal burgh of Tain, site of the famous Glenmorangie Distillery. East of Tain is the hammerhead-shaped Tarbat peninsula which is shared with Cromartyshire. South lies the Cromarty Firth, with the port town of Invergordon on its north shore. Dingwall, the county town, lies at the head of the Cromarty Firth. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north of Stirling.
The Dornoch Firth with views across to Sutherland
The Black Isle, also shared with Cromartyshire, is a peninsula between the Cromaty Firth and the Beauly Firth, the border with Inverness-shire. Land use on the Isle is primarily arable farming and forestry. The Black Isle is known for its wildlife, particularly for the chance to see bottlenose dolphins at close range.
Dolphin off the Black isle
The county has many relics of antiquity - stone circles, cairns and forts. The Callanish Stones, on the Isle of Lewis, are an arrangement of standing stones placed in a cruciform pattern with a central stone circle. They are situated on a low ridge above the waters of Loch Roag with the hills of Great Bernera as a backdrop. Numerous other neolithic sites are nearby. Some fine examples of sculptured stones occur, especially those that, according to tradition, mark the burial-place of the three sons of a Danish king who were shipwrecked off the coast of Nigg. The largest, the Clach a' Charraidh, stands at Shandwick. It is about 10 feet high and contains representations of the martyrdom of St Andrew and figures of an elephant and dog.
The Callanish Stone, Isle of Lewis
The county is a joy for nature lovers. Red deer and roe deer abound, and foxes and alpine hares are common. Badgers and wild cats are to be found. The golden eagle soars the high slopes and ospreys come to the lochs. Waterfowl of all kinds frequent the sea lochs.
The county of Ross was constituted as such in 1661. During the 18th century the government reduced the power of the clan chiefs and cleared the way for acquisition of much of the land by outsiders, who forcibly evicted thousands of crofters in the “Highland clearances” to create large sheep-farming estates. Large-scale emigration ensued to the Lowlands and overseas. Although protective legislation was brought in later in the century, continuing economic hardship meant that migration from rural areas to urban areas continued well into the 20th century. During the late 20th century the growth of tourism and the discovery of North Sea oil brought renewed economic vitality to the county. The main sources of employment now are tourism, the public sector and agriculture.
Type: Historic County
Lat, Long: 57.624949,-4.939677
Grid Reference: NH245632
Country: Scotland
Explore Ross-shire on WikishireRoss-shire includes the Isle of Lewis, the northern part of the island collectively known as Lewis with Harris, the largest of the Outer Hebrides. Stornoway is an important port and administrative centre with a variety of educational, sporting and media establishments. The interior of Lewis is a large area of moorland from which peat was traditionally cut as fuel. The southern part of Lewis is more mountainous with inland lochs. The island's diverse habitats are home to an assortment of flora and fauna, such as the golden eagle, red deer and seals.
The view across Camas Uig from Cradhlasta, Isle of Lewis
The mainland county is divided into Easter Ross and Wester Ross.
Wester Ross is well known for its spectacular mountain scenery, especially the Torridon Hills which include the peaks Beinn Eighe and Liathach. The county top is Càrn Eighe (3,881 feet) on the border with Inverness-shire. The coast of Wester Ross is deeply indented with craggy sea-lochs reaching between the highlands and with scattered islands. The chief capes include Greenstone Point, Rubha Reidh, and Redpoint.
Rubha Reidh
The sea-lochs include Loch Alsh, almost enclosed between Ross-shire and Skye, and Loch Carron, reaching deep inland to Strathcarron. Eilean Donan is a small tidal island where three sea lochs meet, Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh. Eilean Donan Castle, originally 13th-century but much restored in the 20th century, occupies the island. There are also many freshwater lochs, the largest being Loch Maree. The Falls of Glomach are one of the highest waterfalls in the United Kingdom, falling 370 feet on the little Allt a' Ghlomaich burn.
Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Alsh
Easter Ross is flatter, and consists of towns, villages and farmland bordering the Moray Firth. In the north, the Dornoch Firth separates the county from Sutherland. On the south of the firth is the royal burgh of Tain, site of the famous Glenmorangie Distillery. East of Tain is the hammerhead-shaped Tarbat peninsula which is shared with Cromartyshire. South lies the Cromarty Firth, with the port town of Invergordon on its north shore. Dingwall, the county town, lies at the head of the Cromarty Firth. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north of Stirling.
The Dornoch Firth with views across to Sutherland
The Black Isle, also shared with Cromartyshire, is a peninsula between the Cromaty Firth and the Beauly Firth, the border with Inverness-shire. Land use on the Isle is primarily arable farming and forestry. The Black Isle is known for its wildlife, particularly for the chance to see bottlenose dolphins at close range.
Dolphin off the Black isle
The county has many relics of antiquity - stone circles, cairns and forts. The Callanish Stones, on the Isle of Lewis, are an arrangement of standing stones placed in a cruciform pattern with a central stone circle. They are situated on a low ridge above the waters of Loch Roag with the hills of Great Bernera as a backdrop. Numerous other neolithic sites are nearby. Some fine examples of sculptured stones occur, especially those that, according to tradition, mark the burial-place of the three sons of a Danish king who were shipwrecked off the coast of Nigg. The largest, the Clach a' Charraidh, stands at Shandwick. It is about 10 feet high and contains representations of the martyrdom of St Andrew and figures of an elephant and dog.
The Callanish Stone, Isle of Lewis
The county is a joy for nature lovers. Red deer and roe deer abound, and foxes and alpine hares are common. Badgers and wild cats are to be found. The golden eagle soars the high slopes and ospreys come to the lochs. Waterfowl of all kinds frequent the sea lochs.
The county of Ross was constituted as such in 1661. During the 18th century the government reduced the power of the clan chiefs and cleared the way for acquisition of much of the land by outsiders, who forcibly evicted thousands of crofters in the “Highland clearances” to create large sheep-farming estates. Large-scale emigration ensued to the Lowlands and overseas. Although protective legislation was brought in later in the century, continuing economic hardship meant that migration from rural areas to urban areas continued well into the 20th century. During the late 20th century the growth of tourism and the discovery of North Sea oil brought renewed economic vitality to the county. The main sources of employment now are tourism, the public sector and agriculture.