The area which falls within the boundary of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, located just a short journey north of Inverness, the area is sea-bound by the Moray Firth to the east, the north-shore of the Cromarty Firth and the south Shore of the Dornoch Firth in this region you will find the Highland towns and villages of Dingwall, Evanton, Ardross, Alness, Invergordon, Tain, Edderton, Fearn and the seaboard villages of Shandwick, Balintore, Hilton, Portmahomack & Inver.

Explore Easter Ross - Local Information Guide

Inland to the west, the region offers Highland wilderness and forestry a truly great biking or car driving country, here you will find amazing scenery, diverse countryside areas where you can venture off the beaten track amid some of the most spectacular views you can imagine and miles of quiet stunning roads, winding at every turn and long strait roads with awesome mountain backdrops the weather is not always great but the ride and your visit will make it well worth it.

Easter Ross is home to and en-route of many internationally and historically recognised trails and treks, including the famous Lands End to John O'Groats “pilgrimage” undertaken by thousands of charitable fund-raising cyclists each year, the Pictish Trail, National Cycle Route, North Sea Cycle Route, LEJOG (Lands End to John O'Groats), Moray Firth Tourist Route, Invergordon Mural Trail, Seaboard Country Coastal Trail, Black Rock Gorge Trail, Forestry Commission cycle and walking trails and the Nigg Bay RSPB Nature Reserve

In this region you will find a wide variety of quality country house hotels, fine dining restaurants, inns and pubs offering local produce can be found in Easter Ross as well as numerous coffee shops & bistros offering traditional Highland fare, this is a much gentler landscape than the rugged west coast, with lower, more rolling hills sloping down to fertile farmland and the sea, dotted with attractive seaside villages such as Portmahomack, Shandwick, Balintore, Hilton, and Inver.

Loosely defined in the area in the east of Ross, the name is used in the constituency name Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, which is the name of both a British House of Commons constituency and a Scottish Parliament constituency.

The two constituencies have however different boundaries, the area covers From Evanton to Alness, Invergordon and Tain to the Seaboard Villages of Balintore, Hilton of Cadboll and Portmahomack.

This is a rich farming area with a much gentler landscape than the rugged west coast, with lower, more rolling hills sloping down to fertile farmland and the sea, dotted with attractive seaside villages such as Portmahomack and Shandwick.

 By about 4,000 BC, Neolithic farmers settled in the North Highlands and the archaeology of Easter Ross shows traces of their houses, cairns and standing stones.

Here you will find steep climbs and panoramic views, full of tradition and history influenced by its turbulent past, Neolithic standing stones with carved symbols, as seen in the case of the Ardjachie Stone and ancient stones carved with Pictish designs, ruined castles,and old churches from the sixth century onwards, by the eighth century the Pictish were a dominant force in Scotland.

They ruled from Orkney to the Forth until the arrival of the Vikings and the disappearance of the Picts into a new kingdom of the Scots.

Situated near to the delightful Victorian spa village of Strathpeffer, you will find Castle Leod, one of the most beautiful unspoilt fairy tail and romantic castles in the Highlands, it is the Seat of Clan Mackenzie, their Chief (Cabarfeidh), Earl of Cromartie, and his family.

The castle and the family have been at the epicentre of Highland and Scottish politics, heavily involved in the Jacobite Rising of 1745 as well as other adventures that have resulted in sentences of death for High Treason, awarding of an Earldom, to clan battles, poverty to the heights of power.

• You find the castle along a tree lined avenue, a short walk from the parking area leads you directly into the old keep itself.
• The region of Easter Ross offers first class spate river fishing and some of the very best stalking to be found anywhere in Scotland.
• The shooting year begins in August when the iconic red grouse season opens and continues through the autumn and winter.
• The seasons encompass wild sport in the Highlands, stately pheasant and partridge days and both walked up and driven grouse.

Find beautiful beaches, quiet lochs, forests, walking trails, golf courses, fishing, seals dolphin spotting from the shore, spectacular cliffs, boat trips, arts and crafts studios, breathtaking views, food and drink, stopping for hot chocolates at local cafes, buying local produce from local farmers market, or visiting a local whisky distillery specialising in some of the country’s most treasured produce, whisky and Gin, all available for you to enjoy.

Many people are inspired to celebrate this picturesque region with a trip to the Highlands, Staying in the area for a romantic break for you and a loved one offers you a choice of accommodation for you to stay, suiting all budgets from Bed and Breakfast, hotels, self catering, holiday rentals, caravans, pods, A frames, caravan parks, camping, camper-van sites, Castles, lodges, a light house, or a bothy on the edge of the ancient forest or half way up a mountain side,

In the Summer if you are active or not, being out in the wilderness, sporting activities and the home comforts of your accommodation are as equally enjoyable for both the young and old.

There are a huge number of estates offering grand lodges or remote cottages, catered or uncatered lets and sporting options ranging from trout fishing to driven grouse.

Tain is the oldest Royal Burgh in Scotland,Steeped in dramatic history and scenic landscape, with over 950 years of history and counting, the town boasts spectacular architecture, it can be found between the Cromarty and Dornoch Firths, located along the A9 between the Cromarty Bridge and the Dornoch Bridge, it stands, as it has stood through the centuries, between the heather and the sea, in the far north-east of Scotland.

The town is especially renowned for its wonderful links golf course designed by Tom Morris and the many other courses within easy reach, the world-famous Glenmorangie whisky is produced at the local distillery.

Smaller communities are dispersed between the towns and throughout the more rural areas to the west and east.