We are the Inverness Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Meet 0900 - Start 1015 – Grade C - OS sheet 21 – NGR NH 914843
Park at the main Portmahomack beach car park. We walk along the shore path to the headland towards Tarbat Ness, just over a couple of miles before returning by the same way. It is a beautiful rugged coastal path with a great views over the bay to Dornoch, Golspie and the Caithness hills. The route is mainly on a short, even, grassy track with a couple of stiles to step over. On our return to the cars at the beach, we will have our lunch and then likely drive to the Tarbat Ness Discovery Centre (it’s only a 5 min walk, but not on a nice road, and the Centre has a good size car park). Our pre-booked guided tour around their archaeological site is scheduled for 1.30pm. The tour costs £8 on arrival and will take about an hour.
The Tarbat Discovery Centre is on the grounds of the ancient church of St Colman, displaying works of art created in stone by the Picts more than 1,200 years ago. These treasures, discovered during a 1990s archaeological dig, include fragments of majestic cross-slabs carved skilfully with elaborate geometric patterns, interwoven with magnificent animals and people. The Centre displays Pict and Early Medieval tools, artefacts and moulds used in the 8th century to create religious masterpieces, such as chalices and reliquaries in gold, silver, enamel and glass.
