North Kessock
| North Kessock Gaelic: Ceasag a Tuath | |
| Ross-shire | |
|---|---|
 The North Kessock Hotel | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NH652477 |
| Location: | 57°30’1"N, 4°14’59"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Inverness |
| Postcode: | IV1 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Highland |
North Kessock is a village in the parish of Knockbain on the Black Isle in Ross-shire. Its counterpart across the Beauly Firth, South Kessock, is a district of Inverness.
Description
North Kessock is the first village encountered over the Kessock Bridge. Now by-passed by the main road to the north (the A9), the village remains quiet.[1]
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.[1][2] This was on the pilgrim route north to St Duthac Church in Tain.
The Kessock Ferry connected North and South Kessock until 1982, when the Kessock Bridge was completed and opened.
Wildlife
North Kessock is a famous spot for watching bottlenose dolphins, which are resident in the Moray Firth - indeed they are said to be the most northerly group of bottlenose dolphins in the world. The Dolphin and Seal Centre, just north of the village (off the A9), is run by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. It is located in the Tourist Information car park, north of the Kessock bridge off the A9. The charity also runs the Wildlife Centre at Spey Bay.
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "North Kessock". Undiscovered Scotland. http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/northkessock/northkessock/index.html. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
- ↑ "North Kessock and District History". North Kessock and District Local History Society. http://www.northkessockhistory.com/index.asp?pageid=143475. Retrieved 18 September 2009.