Portmahomack
Portmahomack is easily reached by road from Inverness, but has it’s own very unique appeal, being well off the ‘beaten track’, and often discovered only by accident, by visitors taking a wrong turn at Tain!
Once found, however, these visitors return year after year, captivated by the peace, beauty, and welcoming nature of the village, and the villagers.
There are 2 very good pubs in the village, providing meals and often live music, both planned and impromptu sessions by local musicians. The Oystercatcher restaurant is well known for it’s high standard of cuisine, using local seafood and meats. It is small and very popular, and forward planning and booking is advisable.
There is a village shop / post office, 2 churches, and a lovely 9-hole Tarbat Golfcourse, which welcomes visitors, and enjoys superb views.
Local attractions include Tarbat Discovery Centre ( Pictish interpretive centre), Tarbat Ness lighthouse, and the tiny, picturesque Rockfield village, a pleasant mile walk from the village, across the peninsula.
There are lovely coastal walks at either end of the village, and Mo-Dhachaidh overlooks the wonderful rock pools that keep children amused for hours. Otter, seal, dolphin, heron, plover, oystercatcher and cormorant all compete for your attention, and the sunsets in the summer months can be the equal of anywhere on the planet.
The safe and sheltered bay is perfect for watersports of all kinds. Fishing trips can be arranged locally, and small craft can be launched from the slipway at the harbour, or directly from the beach.
The Northern Highlands
Surrounding Area
The ancient Royal Burgh of Tain is a 10 minute drive away, with its many shops, supermarkets, banks, restaurants, take-aways, and challenging 18 hole Golf Course. Glenmorangie distillery is well worth a visit, and the resulting purchase can be enjoyed to maximum effect whilst watching the sunset from your balcony!
Dingwall is a busy market town with a pleasant pedestrianised shopping street, and Dornoch has a Cathedral (Maddona’s wedding venue), and a championship (Royal Dornoch) Golf course. Both are about 30 minutes drive away.
The Black Isle is well worth a visit, with its quaint villages and towns, wonderful beaches and golf courses (particularly Rosemarkie). The Black Isle Brewery, Wildlife Centre, Clanland & Sealpoint, and Hugh Millers Cottage (Cromarty) are all worth a visit.
Inverness, with its modern shopping malls, fine restaurants, swimming pools, ten-pin bowling, Ice Rink, cinemas and theatre, is 40 minutes drive away, and the mysteries of Loch Ness are within an hours drive. Drumnadrochit, with it’s ‘Monster’ exhibitions, and atmospheric Urquhart Castle are 75 minutes away. Take a cruise up Loch Ness from Inverness with Jacobite Cruises.
Glen Affric is possibly the most beautiful and tranquil glen in the entire Highlands. Make your own mind up on that one, but you must walk well into it !
Wick, Ullapool, Kyle of Lochalsh, and the Skye Bridge are all within a comfortable day trip.
To the North are Dornoch, Embo, (‘Grannie’s Heilan’ Hame’), Carbisdale & Dunrobin Castles, Bonar Bridge, Lairg, and the Falls of Shin, where you can watch Salmon leaping up the waterfall.
Hill-walking
Many of the more isolated Munros are within easy reach of the Port, including Ben Wyvis, Ben Klibreck, Ben Hope, Beinn Dearg, Ben More Assynt & Conival. For the less energetic, there are stunning coastal walks, forest walks, and many quiet beaches accessible by car.
Travel
- Rail - Nearest station is Tain (10 miles) with services to Wick & Inverness.
- Coach Links to Inverness via Tain.
- Local bus service to Tain.
- Air Inverness (Dalcross) with daily flights to Luton (Easyjet).
Up to date travel information can be found on the Visit Scotland website.
Directions
Full size map can be found on Google Maps.
A9 North from Inverness to Tain. At Tain, turn right on minor road signposted to Portmahomack (9 mls).
On arrival at start of village, take the single track road (left) to Balnabruach, just before church, past the caravan site, and ‘Mo-Dhachaidh’ is the second last house before the end of the road.
Once found, however, these visitors return year after year, captivated by the peace, beauty, and welcoming nature of the village, and the villagers.
There is a village shop / post office, 2 churches, and a lovely 9-hole Tarbat Golfcourse, which welcomes visitors, and enjoys superb views.