Nairnshire

Scotland > Highland Counties > Nairnshire

Nairn was the county town of Nairnshire a former county, on the southern coast of the Moray Firth. The early inhabitants of Nairnshire were the Picts. The area suffered from Norse invasions until the 10th century. Cawdor Castle in the county is famous for its association with the play - Macbeth. The present castle dates from the 14th century.

The county was absorbed, politically into the Highland region in the 1970s and 90s but it is still defiantly independent by nature. If anything, it has more in common with its neighbours to the east , Moray and Banffshire , than it does with old Inverness-shire to the west. It has the same coastal location on the Moray Firth, giving rise to fishing.

It also has the very fertile coastal plain to the north with the Grampians to the south and the same inclination towards colour within its environment by way of floral presentations. It also has a similar history and a fruitful salmon river in the Findhorn , perhaps not quite in the same league, though, as the Spey , and there is also the River Nairn.

Historically, Nairn has strong associations with the 1745 Jacobite Rising and Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stuart) whose army camped here prior to the fateful Battle of Culloden. He, himself, was probably at Kilravock Castle not far from Cawdor.

South Nairnshire is given over to the Grampians but there is some fantastic scenery associated with the River Findhorn, especially at Dulsie Bridge where there is a rocky gorge and an 18th century bridge. This area is very quiet and some would say 'remote' because of its solitude but actually you are only 10 or 15 miles from Nairn. If you walked up the River Findhorn you would meet the A9 at Tomatin where you could visit another Distillery. Note, however that there is no road; you would need to walk or take a mountain bike!

The county town, Nairn, has developed over the last 30 years as a dormitory town for expanding Inverness as well as being a popular area for visitors. The sands are vast and the views north superb. Inverness airport lies only a few miles west towards Inverness and Nairn is on the main Inverness to Aberdeen railway line.