Chanonry Point
Rubha Shionnach
A sandspit on the Black Isle that reaches into the Moray Firth, and one of the best places in Britain to watch wild bottlenose dolphins from the shore.
Chanonry Point lies on the Black Isle between Fortrose and Rosemarkie, with Fort George across the water. The channel narrows here, creating strong tidal currents that draw salmon, and bottlenose dolphins from the Moray Firth come to feed, often leaping just a few dozen meters offshore. The best time is about an hour after high tide, and summer weekends are busy. A paid car park sits beside the lighthouse, but spaces are limited, so it is recommended to walk along the beach from Rosemarkie. Entry is free, and the point is about 25 km from Inverness.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Fort George
- Fairy Glen, Rosemarkie
- Culloden Battlefield
- Clava Cairns
- Inverness
- Cawdor Castle
- Tomatin Distillery
- Glenmorangie Distillery