Portmahomack

IV20 1YR
Sandy Beach
Harbour
Dog Friendly Beach
Beach Car Park on Main Street
Public Toilets
Nearest Shop is Premier Stores  IV20 1YB  7am-8.30pm Mon to Fri, Sat 8am-8,30pm Sun 10am-4pm
Nearest ATM is at Balintore Nisa Local Shop or Tesco Supermarket in Tain
Portmahomack Gala Day Saturday 27th July 2023

As the A9  curves west towards Tain on its route north it misses a long tongue of land, the Tarbat Peninsula. This reaches out in a north easterly direction into the North Sea, dividing the Dornoch and Moray Firths.  If you explore this are you will eventually arrive at the pretty seaside village of Portmahomack. This is an idyllic location complete with distant views of the Sutherland hills. If you have really good eyesight (Or a pair of binoculars!) you can just about pick out Dunrobin Castle.

Portmahomack's origins date back to AD975 when St Colmac established a priory here. It is labelled as " Monasterio de Saint Colmóc" on GOogle maps. The village grew between the priory and the shore, taking advantage of the sheltered of a location. A church was built on the site of the priory in 1255. Then in 1756 this was replaced by Old Tarbat Parish Church, which now houses the Tarbat Discovery Centre. 

Tarbat Discovery Centre

This is designed to provide tourists with an insight into the area's pictish past: complete with a life-size bronze of a Pictish Queen outside. The site was excavated in the 90's  and is of national significance being one of the earliest Christian sites in Britain dating from the 6th century. It is the only Pictish monastic site found in Scotland to date and is sometimes called ‘The Iona of the East’. The Centre displays many spectacular artefacts and examples of Pictish Art.

The Picts were made up of various tribes or kingdoms who spoke a Celtic language and are believed to have descended from the native peoples of Scotland. The Picts had a prehistoric religion but were later converted to Christianity. The name Pict comes from the fact that the Romans referred to the as the Picti, meaning ‘painted people’, with reference to the many tattoos their warriors wore.

In the Summer months of 2018 the Tarbat Discovery Centre will be open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and between 2pm and 5pm on a Sunday. Entrance fee is £3.50 for adults, £1.50 for 12-18 year olds and under 12's are free. Visit their website for more information.

Tarbat Ness Lighthouse

Tarbat Ness Lighthouse was engineered by Robert Stevenson and the light was first exhibited on 26 January 1830. James Smith of Inverness was the contractor responsible for the building of the lighthouse. The lighthouse tower is the third tallest in Scotland (North Ronaldsay and Skerryvore being taller) and bears two distinguishing broad red bands.

Most of the Tarbat Ness peninsula is farmland, but it remains an attractive amenity area, and an asset of East Ross. It has geological and ornithological significance. The geological interest lies chiefly within the foreshore stretch between Rockfield and the lighthouse, especially east of Wilkhaven Farm. The sedimentary structures in the Upper Old Red Sandstone, intertidal weathering in calciferous rock and deeply weathered rock are well displayed here. There are also Jurassic outliers on the shore. 

Oyster plants and other interesting coastal plants occur. Tarbat Ness is the stopping-off point for migratory birds during the autumn migration. It is of special interest for the observation of seabird passage through the Moray Firth, and Manx and Sooty shearwaters, great arctic and pomarine skuas as well as other seabirds may be seen. 


According to Highland folklore the site of the lighthouse was used as a meeting place for witches covens and prior to that it used to be a Roman Fort.

The Tarbat Ness Lighthouse is located at the North West tip of the Tarbat Ness peninsula near the fishing village of Portmahomack. There is a large car park as indicated on the overhead to the left.

I have seen lots of pictures in the FB groups of people wild camping here. Leave a reasonable distance between vehicles, arrive late, leave early and take all your rubbish with you. Alternatively, stay at the local camp site (details below).



Portmahomack Caravan and Camping Site  IV20 1YL

This site is £17 per night (No other supplementary charges) and all proceeds go to the local church who extend a very warm welcome to visitors of any denomination. The site sits right in  front of a wonderful, safe, sandy beach. Dolphins can sometimes be seen playing in the firth and  there are views across the firth to Dunrobin Castle and fantastic sunsets looking West up the Firth. 35 Pitches are available for motorhomes, caravans and tents. A small friendly site.

On this Site you will find:
Toilet Block with ample hot water 
Laundry Room with ample hot water, and coin-operated washer and dryer 
Shower facilities (Takes 50p and 10p coins) 
Limited hookup facilities
Chemical toilet disposal
Dogs welcome but must be kept on a lead
Office closed on Sundays and no caravans to be moved on or off site on Sundays
£10 deposit for shower block key. Deposit returned when the key is handed in to the office.
Telephone: 01862 871467 (Rev MacLeod - Please do not call on Sundays!)




The next beach on the anticlockwise route is Dornoch