Ross and Cromarty ( gd, Ros agus Cromba), sometimes referred to as Ross-shire and Cromartyshire, is a variously defined area in the

Highlands and Islands The Highlands and Islands is an area of Scotland broadly covering the Scottish Highlands, plus Orkney, Shetland and Outer Hebrides (Western Isles). The Highlands and Islands are sometimes defined as the area to which the Crofters' Act of 1886 ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

. There is a

registration county A registration county was, in Great Britain and Ireland, a statistical unit used for the registration of births, deaths and marriages and for the output of census information. In Scotland registration counties are used for land registration purpose ...

and a

lieutenancy area Lieutenancy areas are the separate areas of the United Kingdom appointed a lord-lieutenant – a representative of the British monarch. In many cases they have similar demarcation and naming to, but are not necessarily coterminate with, the co ...

in current use, the latter of which is in extent. Historically there has also been a

constituency An electoral district, also known as an election district, legislative district, voting district, constituency, riding, ward, division, or (election) precinct is a subdivision of a larger State (polity), state (a country, administrative region, ...

of the

Parliament of the United Kingdom The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of Westminster, London. It alone possesses legislative suprema ...

(1832 to 1983), a

local government Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of public administration within a particular sovereign state. This particular usage of the word government refers specifically to a level of administration that is both geographically-loca ...

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

(1890 to 1975), a district of the

Highland Highlands or uplands are areas of high elevation such as a mountainous region, elevated mountainous plateau or high hills. Generally speaking, upland (or uplands) refers to ranges of hills, typically from up to while highland (or highlands) is ...

local government region (1975 to 1996) and a management area of the

Highland Council The Highland Council (' ), the political body covering the Highland local authority created in 1995, comprises 21 wards, each electing three or four councillors by the single transferable vote system, which creates a form of proportional represe ...

(1996 to 2007). The local government county is now divided between two local government areas: the

area and Na h-Eileanan Siar (the Western Isles). Ross and Cromarty border

Sutherland Sutherland ( gd, Cataibh) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area in the Highlands of Scotland. Its county town is Dornoch. Sutherland borders Caithness and Moray Firth to the east, Ross-shire and Cromartyshire (later ...

to the north and

Inverness-shire Inverness-shire ( gd, Siorrachd Inbhir Nis) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. Covering much of the Highlands and Outer Hebrides, it is Scotland's largest county, though one of the smallest in populatio ...

to the south. The county was formed by the uniting of the

shires Shire is a traditional term for an administrative division of land in Great Britain and some other English-speaking countries such as Australia and New Zealand. It is generally synonymous with county. It was first used in Wessex from the begin ...

Ross-shire Ross-shire (; gd, Siorrachd Rois) is a historic county in the Scottish Highlands. The county borders Sutherland to the north and Inverness-shire to the south, as well as having a complex border with Cromartyshire – a county consisting of ...

and

Cromartyshire Cromartyshire ( gd, Siorrachd Chromba) is a historic county in the Highlands of Scotland, comprising the medieval "old shire" around the county town of Cromarty and 22 enclaves and exclaves transferred from Ross-shire in the late 17th century. ...

. Both these shires had themselves been formed from the historic province of

Ross Ross or ROSS may refer to: People * Clan Ross, a Highland Scottish clan * Ross (name), including a list of people with the surname or given name Ross, as well as the meaning * Earl of Ross, a peerage of Scotland Places * RoSS, the Republic of Sou ...

, out of which the many enclaves and exclaves that formed Cromartyshire were carved out, leaving the remaining area to become Ross-shire.Mackenzie 1810
pp.15–16
/ref> These parcels of land were for many purposes administered as part of Ross-shire rather than Cromartyshire.Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland

/ref> The county also included the

Isle of Lewis The Isle of Lewis ( gd, Eilean Leòdhais) or simply Lewis ( gd, Leòdhas, ) is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. The two parts are frequently referred to as ...

, however this is not part of the modern lieutenancy area (which instead includes the

Isle of Skye The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye (; gd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or ; sco, Isle o Skye), is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated ...

), although Lewis is part of the current registration county.

Geography

Western Ross and Cromarty, also known as

Wester Ross Wester Ross () is an area of the Northwest Highlands of Scotland in the council area of Highland. The area is loosely defined, and has never been used as a formal administrative region in its own right, but is generally regarded as lying to the ...

, is typified by its mountainous Highland scenery, especially the

Torridon Hills The Torridon Hills surround Torridon village in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. The name is usually applied to the mountains to the north of Glen Torridon. They are among the most dramatic and spectacular peaks in the British Isles and made ...

which includes such peaks as

Beinn Eighe Beinn Eighe () is a mountain massif in the Torridon area of Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. Lying south of Loch Maree, it forms a long ridge with many spurs and summits, two of which are classified as Munros: Rua ...

and

Liathach Liathach (pronounced , ) is a mountain in the Torridon Hills, in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It stands between Loch Torridon and the neighbouring mountain Beinn Eighe. The mountain is a ridge running east–west, with several peaks, and i ...

. The highest point in the county is Càrn Eighe at . It contains a long, fractured coastline along

The Minch The Minch ( gd, An Cuan Sgitheanach, ', ', '), also called North Minch, is a strait in north-west Scotland, separating the north-west Scottish Highlands, Highlands and the northern Inner Hebrides from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides. It ...

and Inner Sound (opposite

Skye The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye (; gd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or ; sco, Isle o Skye), is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated b ...

), consisting of a number of isolated peninsulas split by sea lochs; from north to south the chief of these are

Coigach Coigach () is a peninsula north of Ullapool, in Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. The area consists of a traditional crofting and fishing community of a couple of hundred houses located between mountain and shore on a peninsula ...

Loch Broom Loch Broom ( gd, Lochbraon, "loch of rain showers") is a sea loch located in northwestern Ross and Cromarty, in the former parish of Lochbroom, on the west coast of Scotland. The small town of Ullapool lies on the eastern shore of the loch. L ...

, the Scoraig peninsula,

Little Loch Broom Loch Broom ( gd, Lochbraon, "loch of rain showers") is a sea loch located in northwestern Ross and Cromarty, in the former parish of Lochbroom, on the west coast of Scotland. The small town of Ullapool lies on the eastern shore of the loch. Li ...

, Gruinard Bay,

Rubha Mòr Rubha Mòr is a remote peninsula in west Scotland, in the western region of Ross and Cromarty. The peninsula stretches from Greenstone Point in the north to the villages of Poolewe on the southern coastline and Laide on the northern coastline. The ...

peninsula,

Loch Ewe Loch Ewe ( gd, Loch Iùbh) is a sea loch in the region of Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. The shores are inhabited by a traditionally Gàidhlig-speaking people living in or sustained by crofting villages, the most notab ...

, Rua Reidh/Melvaig peninsula,

Loch Gairloch Loch Gairloch is a sea loch on the North West coast of Highland, Scotland. In Scottish Gaelic it is ''an Geàrr Loch'' meaning 'the short loch'. Around long by wide, it leads west to the Little Minch. The B8021 and B8056 run around its northe ...

Loch Torridon Loch Torridon ( gd, Loch Thoirbheartan) is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland in the Northwest Highlands. The loch was created by glacial processes and is in total around 15 miles (25 km) long. It has two sections: Upper Loch Torridon ...

Applecross peninsula Applecross ( gd, A' Chomraich) is a peninsula north-west of Kyle of Lochalsh in the council area of Highland, Scotland. The name Applecross is at least 1,300 years old and is ''not'' used locally to refer to the 19th century village (which is ...

Loch Kishorn Loch Kishorn ( gd, Ciseòrn) is a sea loch in the north-west Highlands of Scotland. Kishorn is a collective name used to refer to a group of populated settlements located next to the loch. Topography Loch Kishorn is a northern branch of Loch Ca ...

Loch Carron Loch Carron (Scottish Gaelic: "Loch Carrann") is a sea loch on the west coast of Ross and Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands, which separates the Lochalsh peninsula from the Applecross peninsula, and from the Stomeferry headland east of Loch K ...

Lochalsh Lochalsh is a district of mainland Scotland that is currently part of the Highland (council area), Highland council area. The Lochalsh district covers all of the mainland either side of Loch Alsh - and of Loch Duich - between Loch Carron and Loch ...

peninsula,

Loch Long Loch Long is a body of water in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The Sea Loch extends from the Firth of Clyde at its southwestern end. It measures approximately in length, with a width of between . The loch also has an arm, Loch Goil, on its weste ...

Loch Duich Loch Duich (Scottish Gaelic: "Loch Dubhthaich") is a sea loch situated on the western coast of Scotland, in the Highlands. History In 1719, British forces burned many homesteads along the loch's shores in the month preceding the Battle of Glen S ...

and the Glenelg peninsula which is shared with Inverness-shire. The eastern half (

Easter Ross Easter Ross ( gd, Ros an Ear) is a loosely defined area in the east of Ross, Highland, Scotland. The name is used in the constituency name Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, which is the name of both a British House of Commons constituenc ...

) is generally flatter, and consists of towns, villages and farmland bordering the

Moray Firth The Moray Firth (; Scottish Gaelic: ''An Cuan Moireach'', ''Linne Mhoireibh'' or ''Caolas Mhoireibh'') is a roughly triangular inlet (or firth) of the North Sea, north and east of Inverness, which is in the Highland council area of north of Scotl ...

. In the north

Dornoch Firth The Dornoch Firth ( gd, Caolas Dhòrnaich, ) is a firth on the east coast of Highland, in northern Scotland. It forms part of the boundary between Ross and Cromarty, to the south, and Sutherland, to the north. The firth is designated as a nationa ...

separates the county from Sutherland; near the

Dornoch Firth Bridge The Dornoch Firth Bridge is a road bridge over the Dornoch Firth, carrying traffic between Tain and Dornoch. History It was built for the Scottish Office. There had been recent substantial improvements of the A9 between Inverness and Tain, incl ...

lies the thin, tapering Ness of Portnaculter peninsula. In the north-east can be found the hammerhead-shaped

Tarbat Tarbat (Gaelic , meaning 'a crossing or isthmus'Place-names of Ross and Cromarty, by W J Watson, publ. The Northern Counties Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd., Inverness 1904; p.45) is a civil parish in Highland, Scotland, in the north-east corner ...

peninsula; across

Cromarty Firth The Cromarty Firth (; gd, Caolas Chrombaidh ; literally "kyles /nowiki>straits.html"_;"title="strait.html"_;"title="/nowiki>strait">/nowiki>straits">strait.html"_;"title="/nowiki>strait">/nowiki>straitsof_Cromarty.html" ;"title="strait">/no ...

lies the

Black Isle The Black Isle ( gd, an t-Eilean Dubh, ) is a peninsula within Ross and Cromarty, in the Scottish Highlands. It includes the towns of Cromarty and Fortrose, and the villages of Culbokie, Jemimaville, Rosemarkie, Avoch, Munlochy, Tore, and Nor ...

(actually a peninsula not an island). To the south-east

Beauly Firth The Beauly Firth ( gd, Linne Fharair) is a firth in northern Scotland. It is the outlet for both the River Beauly and River Ness. The Beauly Firth is bounded at its western end by the town of Beauly and its eastern by Inverness, where it emptie ...

forms the border with Inverness-shire. The county contains numerous lochs, the most prominent of these being Loch Ailsh, Crom Loch, Loch a' Choire Mhòir, Loch Fada, Lochan Gaineamhaich,

Loch Cluanie Loch Cluanie (Scottish Gaelic: ''Loch Cluanaidh'') is a loch in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland at the south-east end of Glen Shiel. It is a reservoir, contained behind the Cluanie Dam, constructed by Mitchell Construction and completed in 19 ...

Loch Loyne Loch Loyne is a loch in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. Loch Loyne lies between Glen Garry and Glen Cluanie. The A87 road runs beside the eastern side of the loch. Road and Dam The first proper road across the Loyne was begun in 1821 by th ...

Loch Monar Loch Monar is a freshwater loch situated at the head of Glen Strathfarrar, in the West Highlands of Scotland. Since the 1960s, it has been dammed as part of the Affric-Beauly hydro-electric power scheme. The loch is fed by a number of small burn ...

Loch Mullardoch Loch Mullardoch is a major reservoir in Glen Cannich in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It was created by the damming in 1951 of the River Cannich just upstream of Mullardoch House, as part of the Affric-Beauly hydro-electric power scheme. A ...

, Loch a' Bhealaich,

Loch nan Eun Loch nan Eun is a remote freshwater loch, located in Gleann Taitneach in the Grampian Mountains, Perth and Kinross, some 4.5 miles west of The Cairnwell , photo = The Cairnwell (An Càrn Bhailg) (Cairngorm Mountains, Aberdeenshire, Scotla ...

, Loch na Leitreach, Loch an Laoigh, Loch Calavie, An Gead Loch, Loch an Tachdaidh,

Loch Sgamhain Loch Scaven (Gaelic: Loch Sgamhain) is a small freshwater loch at the head of Glen Carron near the source of the River Carron, Wester Ross, Scotland. It is about southwest of Achnasheen and from Loch Gowan ''Loch'' () is the Scottish Gael ...

, Loch a' Chroisg, Loch Clair, Loch Coulin, Loch Fhiarlaid, Loch Dughaill, Loch Coultrie, Loch Damph,

Loch Lundie Loch Lundie is a small, lowland freshwater loch in Glen Garry, about north-west of Invergarry in the Scottish Highlands. The loch is irregular in shape with a perimeter of . It is approximately long, has an average depth of and is at its dee ...

, Loch na A-Oidhche,

Loch Maree Loch Maree ( gd, Loch Ma-ruibhe) is a loch in Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. At long and with a maximum width of , it is the fourth-largest freshwater loch in Scotland; it is the largest north of Loch Ness. Its surface area ...

, Loch a' Ghodhainn, Loch Ghaineamhach, Loch Bad an Sgalaig,

Loch a' Bhraoin Loch a' Bhraoin, Loch Broom ( gd, Loch of showers or drizzling rain), is a freshwater loch, located in Wester Ross, in Ross-shire, on the west coast of Scotland. Settlements Due to the remoteness of the loch, there are very few settlements in ...

Loch Fannich Loch Fannich is a remote loch in Ross-shire, in Scotland. The loch is located west of Strathpeffer. Etymology The name ''Fannich'' may represent an adaption into Gaelic of an earlier Pictish Pictish is the extinct Brittonic language spo ...

, Fionn Loch, Loch na Sealga,

Loch Eye Loch Eye is a shallow freshwater loch, located close to the east coast of Scotland between the Moray Firth, Dornoch Firth and Cromarty Firth. Covering an area of 205 hectares, it is an important site for waterfowl and has been protected since 19 ...

, Loch Glass, Loch Morie, Loch Ussie,

Loch Achilty Loch Achilty is a large picturesque lowland freshwater loch set within a sloping birch and oakwood forest, and located near to Contin in Ross-shire, Scottish Highlands, Scotland. Loch Achilty is notable for having no outflow. It has been assum ...

, Loch Garve, Loch Luichart,

Loch Achanalt Loch Achanalt is a small, irregularly shaped, lowland freshwater loch in Ross and Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands, close to Achanalt railway station and the village of Achanalt. It is roughly quadrangular in shape with an approximate diameter ...

, Loch Meig, Loch Droma,

Loch Glascarnoch Loch Glascarnoch is a reservoir in the highlands of Scotland between Ullapool and Inverness. It is dammed on its eastern end. The reservoir was created in 1957 and forms part of the Conon Hydro-electric Power Scheme. The A835 The A835 is a ...

, Loch Coire Làir, Loch Vaich, Loch a' Chaorunn, Loch na Caoidhe, Loch Beannacharain, Loch na Totaig, Loch Osgaig, Loch Raa, Loch Vatachan, Fionn Loch,

Loch Veyatie Loch Veyatie (Gaelic: Loch Mheathadaidh) is a large freshwater loch in north-west Scotland. It stretches for 6 km north-westwards from the settlement of Elphin, and lies between Suilven and Cùl Mòr. The loch is located in an area known as ...

, Loch Lurgainn, Loch Bad a' Ghaill, Loch Sionascaig, Lochan Tuath, Loch an Doire Duibh, Loch Doire na h-Airbhe, Loch a Ghille, Loch Buine Mhòire, Loch Call an Uidhean, Loch a' Chroisg, Loch Achall, Loch an Daimh, Loch na Maoile, Loch Ob an Lochain, Clar Lochan,

Loch an Eilein Loch an Eilein is a small irregular shaped, freshwater loch in the Rothiemurchus Forest about south of Aviemore, Scotland in Cairngorms National Park. Loch an Eilein comes from the Scottish Gaelic and means 'Loch of the island'. The loch is cons ...

and the Orrin Reservoir. Lewis is the northern part of

Lewis and Harris Lewis and Harris ( gd, Leòdhas agus na Hearadh, sco, Lewis an Harris), or Lewis with Harris, is a single Scottish island in the Outer Hebrides, divided by mountains. It is the largest island in Scotland and the third largest in the British ...

, the largest island of the Outer Hebrides and the third largest in the British Isles after Britain and Ireland. Due to its flatter, more fertile land, Lewis contains three-quarters of the population of the Western Isles, and the largest settlement,

Stornoway Stornoway (; gd, Steòrnabhagh; sco, Stornowa) is the main town of the Western Isles and the capital of Lewis and Harris in Scotland. The town's population is around 6,953, making it by far the largest town in the Outer Hebrides, as well a ...

. To the west lie the isolated and uninhabited

Flannan Isles The Flannan Isles ( gd, Na h-Eileanan Flannach) or alternatively, the Seven Hunters are a small island group in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, approximately west of the Isle of Lewis. They may take their name from Saint Flannan, the 7th centu ...

. About north of the

Butt of Lewis The Butt of Lewis ( gd, Rubha Robhanais) is the most northerly point of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The headland, which lies in the North Atlantic, is frequently battered by heavy swells and storms and is marked by the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse ...

lie

North Rona Rona ( gd, Rònaigh) is a remote, uninhabited Scottish island in the North Atlantic. Rona is often referred to as North Rona to distinguish it from South Rona (another small island, in the Inner Hebrides). It has an area of and a maximum elevat ...

and

Sula Sgeir Sula Sgeir is a small, uninhabited Scottish island in the North Atlantic, west of Rona. One of the most remote islands of the British Isles, it lies approximately north of Lewis and is best known for its population of gannets. It has a narr ...

, a remote group of islands which are included within Ross-shire.

Islands

Mainland

*A' Ghlas-Leac *An Garbh-Eilean *Black Islands *

Crowlin Islands The Crowlin Islands () are a group of uninhabited islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. They lie between Skye and the Applecross peninsula on the mainland. The individual islands are: * Eilean Mòr (big island) *Eilean Meadhonach (middle ...

*Eilean a' Chait *Eilean a' Mhal *Eilean an Inbhire Bhàin *Eilean an t-Sratha *

Eilean Bàn Eilean Bàn (Scottish Gaelic meaning ''White Island'') is a island between Kyle of Lochalsh and the Isle of Skye, in the historic county of Ross and Cromarty in the Highland local government area. The Skye Bridge uses the island as a stepping-s ...

*Eilean Chuaig *Eilean Dubh Dhurinis *Eilean Furadh Mòr *

Eilean Horrisdale Eilean Horrisdale is an uninhabited island in Loch Gairloch in Wester Ross, Scotland. Geography Eilean Horrisdale is the largest island in Loch Gairloch. In front is the smaller, Eilean Tioram (dry island), which is connected to the mainland by ...

*Eilean Mòineseach *

Eilean Mòr Eilean Mòr, literally meaning "large island" in Scottish Gaelic, is the name of several Scottish islands. In some areas, the term merely refers to the large island of a group, and may be used in place of the actual name: Saltwater * Eilean Mòr, ...

*Eilean na Bà *Eilean na Bà Mòr *Eilean na Beinne *Eilean na Creige Duibhe *Eilean nam Feannag *Eilean nan Naomh *Eilean Stacan * Eilean Tioram *Eileanan Dubha *

Fraoch Eilean This is a list of islands called Eilean Fraoch or Fraoch Eilean, which provides an index for islands in Scotland with this and similar names. Literally meaning "Calluna, heather island" in Scottish Gaelic, it is a common Scottish island name. It ma ...

*Fraoch Eilean Mòr *Fraoachlan *Glas Eilean *Green Island *

Gruinard Island Gruinard Island ( ; gd, Eilean Ghruinneard) is a small, oval-shaped Scottish island approximately long by wide, located in Gruinard Bay, about halfway between Gairloch and Ullapool. At its closest point to the mainland, it is about offshore ...

Isle of Ewe The Isle of Ewe ( gd, Eilean Iùbh) is a small Scottish island on the west coast of Ross and Cromarty. The island is inhabited by a single family, the Grants, who have lived at the Main House in the south of the island since the mid-19th century ...

*Kishorn Island *Làrach Tigh Mhic Dhomhnuill *

Longa Island Longa Island (Gaelic: ''Longa'') is a small uninhabited island at the mouth of Loch Gairloch, on the west coast of Scotland. Longa is nearly in length with an area of and a maximum elevation of above sea level. Geology The island is mainl ...

*Sgeir a' Bhuic *Sgeir a' Ghair *Sgeir an Araig *Sgeir an Fheòir *Sgeir Bhuide *Sgeir Bhuidhe *Sgeir Chreagach *Sgeir Dùghaill *Sgeir Fhada *Sgeir Ghlas *Sgeir Maol Mhoraidh *Sgeir Maol Mhoraidh Shuas *Sgeir Mhòr *Sgeir na Trian *

Shieldaig Island Shieldaig Island is an island in Loch Shieldaig, in the council area of Highland (council area), Highland, Scotland. It is located from Shieldaig. Its area is 13 hectares and its 134 feet high. Shieldaig Island has been the property of the Natio ...

*Strome Islands *

Summer Isles The Summer Isles ( gd, Na h-Eileanan Samhraidh, ) are an archipelago lying in the mouth of Loch Broom, in the Highland region of Scotland. Geography Tanera Mòr is the largest island and was the last one to remain inhabited.Kane, Jenny (20 Nov ...

*Ulluva

Lewis

*Àird Orasaigh *

Bearasaigh Bearasaigh or Bearasay (and sometimes Berisay) is an islet in outer Loch Ròg, Lewis, Scotland. During the late 16th and early 17th centuries it was used as a pirates' hideout and the remains of various buildings from that period still exist. In ...

*Bhuaile Mhòr *Bràighe Mòr *Bratanais Mòr *

Campaigh Campaigh or Campay is a steep and rocky islet in outer Loch Ròg, Lewis, Scotland that lies north of Cealasaigh and Little Bernera. A huge natural arch transverses the northern half of the island from south west to north east and there is a lar ...

*Ceabagh *

Ceabhaigh Ceabhaigh is a small island in an arm of Loch Ròg on the west coast of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It is about in extent. It is not known if the island was ever permanently inhabited. It lies in Loch Ròg nan Ear (West Loch Roag ...

Cealasaigh Cealasaigh or Kealasay is an islet in outer Loch Ròg, Isle of Lewis, Lewis, Scotland that lies north of Traigh Mhór on Little Bernera and south of Campaigh. To the west is the islet of Eilean Fir Chrothair (isle of the shepherd) and Sgeir na ...

*Cliatasaigh *Craigeam *Cruitear *Cùl Campaigh *Eilean a' Bhlàir * Eilean an Tighe *Eilean Àrnol *Eilean Beag a' Bhàigh *Eilean Bhàcasaigh *Eilean Bhinndealaim *Eilean Chearstaigh *Eilean Chalaibrigh *Eilean Chaluim Cille *Eilean Cheòis *Eilean Dubh a' Bhàigh *Eilean Fir Chrothair *

Eilean Liubhaird Eilean Liubhaird or Eilean Iubhard is an island in the Outer Hebrides, to the east of Lewis. Geography and geology The rock is "gneiss bedrock with some basaltic intrusion". The island is oblong in shape with several inlets on its south coast, ...

Eilean Mhealasta Eilean Mhealasta (Mealista Island) is an uninhabited island off the west coast of Isle of Lewis, Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It takes its name from Mealista, a nearby township on Lewis. History Nearby Mealista had a shrine to St Cata ...

*Eilean Molach *Eilean Mòr a' Bhàigh *Eilean Mòr Lacasaidh *Eilean Mòr Phabail *Eilean nan Uan *Eilean Orasaidh *Eilean Orasaigh *Eilean Rosaidh *Eilean Sgarastaigh *Eilean Shìophoirt *Eilean Teinis *Eilean Thinngartsaigh *Eilean Thòraidh *Eilean Thuilm *Eilean Trosdam *Eughlam *Eunaigh Mòr *

*Fleisgeir *

Flodaigh, Lewis Flodaigh is a small island in Loch Roag on the west coast of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It is about in extent and the highest point is . Its name derives from the Old Norse for "flat island". Inland, the nearest settlement is op ...

* Flodaigh (Outer Loch Ròg) *

Fuaigh Beag Fuaigh Beag or Vuia Be(a)g is an island in the Outer Hebrides. It is off the west coast of Lewis near Great Bernera in Loch Roag. Its name means "little Fuaigh", and is named in contrast to Fuaigh Mòr nearby. History The element "Fuaigh", deriv ...

Fuaigh Mòr Fuaigh Mòr (sometimes anglicised as Vuia Mor) is an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It is off the west coast of Lewis near Great Bernera in Loch Roag. It is and at its highest point. History In 1841, Fuaigh Mòr was the scene o ...

* Garbh Eilean *Geile Sgeir *Glas Sgeir *Gousam *

Great Bernera Great Bernera (; gd, Beàrnaraigh Mòr), often known just as Bernera ( gd, Beàrnaraigh), is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. With an area of just over , it is the thirty-fourth largest Scottish island. Great Bernera l ...

*Grèineam *Hairsgeir Beag *Hairsgeir Mòr *Lada Sgeir *Langaisgeir Mòr *

Lewis Lewis may refer to: Names * Lewis (given name), including a list of people with the given name * Lewis (surname), including a list of people with the surname Music * Lewis (musician), Canadian singer * "Lewis (Mistreated)", a song by Radiohead ...

(''part of the larger

island'') *Linngeam *Liongam *Lìth Sgeir *

Little Bernera Little Bernera ( gd, Beàrnaraigh Beag) is a small island situated off the west coast of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Little Bernera lies between the sea lochs of West and East Loch Roag, immediately to the north of Great Bernera. ...

*Màs Sgeir *Pabaigh Beag * Pabaigh Mòr *Riosaigh *

Seanna Chnoc Seanna Chnoc (English: "old hill"), correctly known as Seana Bheinn is an islet in outer Loch Ròg, Lewis Lewis may refer to: Names * Lewis (given name), including a list of people with the given name * Lewis (surname), including a list of ...

*Sgeir a' Mhurain *Sgeir Dhail *Sgeir Dhearg *Sgeir Ghlas Bheag *Sgeir Ghobhlach *Sgeir Leathann *Sgeir Liath *Sgeir Mhòr Shildinis *Sgeir Mol Srupair *Sgeir Sgianailt *Sgeir Tanais *Sgeirean An Arbhair *

Shiant Islands The Shiant Islands (; gd, Na h-Eileanan Mòra or ) or Shiant Isles are a privately owned island group in the Minch, east of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. They are southeast of the Isle of Lewis.Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) ''Collins ...

*Siaram Bostadh *Siaram Mòr *Tabhaigh Bheag *Tabhaigh Mhòr *Tamna *Tanaraigh *Tannaraidh *Thalta Sgeir *

Vacsay Vacsay ( gd, Bhacsaigh from Old Norse "bakkiey" meaning "peat bank island") is one of the Outer Hebrides. It is off the west coast of Lewis in West Loch Roag. It is in size, and at its highest point. History Like many of the surrounding i ...

(''Bhàcasaigh in Gaelic'')

North Rona

*Ghealldraig Mhòr *Gralisgeir *Lisgear Mhòr *

*Thamna Sgeir File:Eileanban.jpg, Eilean Bàn from the Skye Bridge, looking towards Kyle of Lochalsh File:Longashags.jpg, Shag birds on Longa Island File:View towards Isle of Ewe - geograph.org.uk - 1167340.jpg, The Isle of Ewe File:Cave on Garbh Eilean, Shiant Isles - geograph.org.uk - 85271.jpg, Cave on Garbh Eilean, Shiant Isles File:Calanais Standing Stones 20090610 01.jpg, The famous

Callanish Stones The Callanish Stones (or "Callanish I": gd, Clachan Chalanais or ) are an arrangement of standing stones placed in a cruciform pattern with a central stone circle. They were erected in the late Neolithic era, and were a focus for ritual activity ...

on Lewis File:Seana Chnoc and Bearasaigh - geograph.org.uk - 1263088.jpg, Seana Chnoc (at left) and Bearasaigh from the south west. Stac nam Balg is just visible to the left of Seanna Chnoc

Economy and population

The main economic activities in Ross and Cromarty are

crofting Crofting is a form of land tenure and small-scale food production particular to the Scottish Highlands, the islands of Scotland, and formerly on the Isle of Man. Within the 19th century townships, individual crofts were established on the bette ...

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...

and

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring (disambiguation), touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tour (disambiguation), tours. Th ...

. The population as of 2001 was 49,967.

Parliamentary constituency

The name Ross and Cromarty was first used for the Ross and Cromarty county constituency of the

from 1832 to 1983. As created in 1832, the constituency merged two former

county constituencies In the United Kingdom (UK), each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one member to the House of Commons. Within the United Kingdom there are five bodies with members elected by electoral districts called "constituenc ...

: the Ross-shire constituency and the Cromartyshire constituency, and it elected a

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

to represent the counties of

and

, minus their

parliamentary burghs The Act of Union 1707 and pre-Union Scottish legislation provided for 14 Members of Parliament (MPs) from Scotland to be elected from districts of burghs. All the parliamentary burghs ( burghs represented in the pre-Union Parliament of Scotla ...

Dingwall Dingwall ( sco, Dingwal, gd, Inbhir Pheofharain ) is a town and a royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,491. It was an east-coast harbour that now lies inland. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest cast ...

Tain Tain ( Gaelic: ''Baile Dhubhthaich'') is a royal burgh and parish in the County of Ross, in the Highlands of Scotland. Etymology The name derives from the nearby River Tain, the name of which comes from an Indo-European root meaning 'flow'. The ...

and

Fortrose Fortrose (; gd, A' Chananaich, sco, Chainry) is a town and former royal burgh in Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is on the Moray Firth, about north-east of Inverness. The burgh is a popular location for trying to spot bottlenose dolp ...

, which were represented as components of the

Wick burghs constituency Wick Burghs, sometimes known as Northern Burghs, was a United Kingdom constituencies, constituency of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1918. It elected one Member o ...

and the Inverness burghs constituency. Constituency boundaries were altered in 1918, by the

Representation of the People Act 1918 The Representation of the People Act 1918 was an Act of Parliament passed to reform the electoral system in Great Britain and Ireland. It is sometimes known as the Fourth Reform Act. The Act extended the franchise in parliamentary elections, also ...

, and the Ross and Cromarty constituency acquired the boundaries of the county of Ross and Cromarty, including the former parliamentary burghs, but minus

and

, which became part of a new constituency, the Western Isles constituency. In 1983, the Ross, Cromarty and Skye constituency was created to represent the then Ross and Cromarty district and

Skye and Lochalsh Skye and Lochalsh ( gd, 'An t-Eilean Sgitheanach agus Loch Aillse') is one of eight former local government districts of the two-tier Highland region of Scotland. The main offices of the Skye and Lochalsh district council were in Portree, on the ...

district. The Kincardine area joined the Caithness and Sutherland constituency.

Local government

County

Highland Council Offices (geograph 3388848)

The local government county of Ross and Cromarty was created in 1890 under the

Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. 50) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which was passed on 26 August 1889. The main effect of the act was to establish elected county councils in Scotland. In this it foll ...

, with boundaries similar to, but not exactly the same as, the boundaries of the constituency. Ross and Cromarty County Council was based at County Buildings in Dingwall. The county continued with largely unchanged boundaries until its abolition in 1975. When the county was abolished in 1975, the mainland part became part of the new

Highland region Highland ( gd, A' Ghàidhealtachd, ; sco, Hieland) is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in the United Kingdom. It was the 7th most populous council area in Scotland at the 2011 census. It share ...

, and Lewis became part of the

Western Isles The Outer Hebrides () or Western Isles ( gd, Na h-Eileanan Siar or or ("islands of the strangers"); sco, Waster Isles), sometimes known as the Long Isle/Long Island ( gd, An t-Eilean Fada, links=no), is an island chain off the west coas ...

islands area.

District

In 1975 the mainland part of the former county was effectively divided between three districts of the Highland region. Most of the former county became the new district of Ross and Cromarty. The

area joined the

district and the Kincardine area joined the

district. The district was abolished in 1996.

Since 1996

The wards in the former district of Ross and Cromarty formed the management area of Ross and Cromarty from 1996 to 1999, and again from 1999 to 2007. The name was not used for a management area after 2007, although some local decisions are delegated to the Ross and Cromarty

area committee Many large local government councils in the United Kingdom have a system of area committees or area boards, which involve local people and organisations in decisions affecting council spending within their area. They cover a geographical area suc ...

, which consists of all Highland councillors representing Ross and Cromarty.

Civil parishes

In the medieval period the area was divided into the following civil and ecclesiastical parishes: # Alness # Avoch # Barvas (on the Isle of Lewis) # Contin # Cromarty # Cullicudden # Dingwall or Inverferan # Edderton # Fearn # Fodderty # Gairloch # Kilchrist or Tarradale # Killearnan aka Ederdour # Kilmuir Easter # Kilmuir Wester # Kiltearn # Kincardine # Kinnettes # Kintail # Kirkmichael # Lemlair # Lochalsh # Lochbroom # Lochcarron # Lochs (on the Isle of Lewis) # Logie Easter # Logie Wester or Logiebride # Nigg # Nonakiln # Rosemarkie # Rosskeen # Stornoway or Eye (on the Isle of Lewis) # Suddy # Tain # Tarbat # Uig (on the Isle of Lewis) # Urquhart # Urray Changes took place in the post-Reformation period. The parish of

Applecross Applecross ( gd, A' Chomraich) is a peninsula north-west of Kyle of Lochalsh in the council area of Highland, Scotland. The name Applecross is at least 1,300 years old and is ''not'' used locally to refer to the 19th century village (which is ...

was created in 1726 out of part of the parish of Lochcarron. The parishes of Kilmuir Wester and Suddy were united in 1750 to form the parish of

Knockbain Knockbain is a parish on the Black Isle, in the county of Ross and Cromarty in Highland council area, Scotland. It includes the villages of North Kessock, Munlochy and Kilmuir. The parishes of Kilmuir Wester and Suddie were united in the 1750s, ...

. The parishes of Urquhart and Logie Wester were united in 1845. The parish of Glenshiel was created out of part of Kintail c. 1750. Kilchrist was absorbed into Urray in 1574. Lemlair was absorbed into Kiltearn in 1618. Nonakiln was absorbed into Rosskeen c. 1714. Kinnettes was absorbed into Fodderty c. C16th. The parishes of Cullicudden and Kirkmichael were united c. 1700 to form the parish of Resolis.

Registration county

The registration county of Ross and Cromarty, used for land registry purposes, covers the area of the former county of Ross and Cromarty, including Lewis.

Lieutenancy area

Lieutenancy areas are subdivisions used for the ceremonial

lord lieutenants A lord-lieutenant ( ) is the British monarch's personal representative in each lieutenancy area of the United Kingdom. Historically, each lieutenant was responsible for organising the county's militia. In 1871, the lieutenant's responsibility ...

, the

monarch A monarch is a head of stateWebster's II New College DictionarMonarch Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. Life tenure, for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest authority ...

's representatives. The Ross and Cromarty lieutenancy area combines the areas of two former districts of the Highland region: Ross and Cromarty, and Skye and Lochalsh. The area therefore includes the mainland part of the registration county and former administrative county of Ross and Cromarty, excluding Kincardine, with the addition of the

, which is in the registration county (and former administrative county) of

Transport

The Kyle of Lochalsh railway line traverses the county west–east, terminating at

Inverness Inverness (; from the gd, Inbhir Nis , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness"; sco, Innerness) is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands. Histori ...

. The

Far North Line The Far North Line is a rural railway line entirely within the Highland area of Scotland, extending from Inverness to Thurso and Wick. As the name suggests, it is the northernmost railway in the United Kingdom. The line is entirely single-trac ...

goes north–south along the east coast, connecting Inverness in the south with

Thurso Thurso (pronounced ; sco, Thursa, gd, Inbhir Theòrsa ) is a town and former burgh on the north coast of the Highland council area of Scotland. Situated in the historical County of Caithness, it is the northernmost town on the island of Great ...

and

Wick Wick most often refers to: * Capillary action ("wicking") ** Candle wick, the cord used in a candle or oil lamp ** Solder wick, a copper-braided wire used to desolder electronic contacts Wick or WICK may also refer to: Places and placenames ...

in the north. The Black Isle is connected by bridge to the 'mainland' -

Cromarty Bridge The Cromarty Bridge is a road bridge over the Cromarty Firth in Scotland. History Design The bridge joins a junction with the B9163 to the south in Ross and Cromarty with a junction with the A862 to the north at Ardullie Point. It can clearly ...

in the north-west and the

Kessock Bridge The Kessock Bridge ( gd, Drochaid Cheasaig) carries the A9 road (Great Britain), A9 trunk road across the Beauly Firth at Inverness, Scotland. Description The Kessock Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge across the Beauly Firth, an inlet of the Mor ...

in the south-west. At the tip of the peninsula a ferry provides access to the Tarbat peninsula. The

Skye Bridge The Skye Bridge ( gd, Drochaid an Eilein Sgitheanaich) is a road bridge over Loch Alsh, Scotland, connecting the Isle of Skye to the island of Eilean Bàn. The name is also used for the whole Skye Crossing, which further connects Eilean Bàn ...

links Kyle of Lochalsh to the isle of Skye. Various buses operated by

Stagecoach Group Stagecoach Group is a transport group based in Perth, Scotland. It operates buses, express coaches and a tram service in the United Kingdom. History Stagecoach was born out of deregulation of the British express coach market in the early ...

link the major towns of the east coast, with the 61 bus connecting Ullapool to Inverness. The latter route is also served by

Scottish Citylink Scottish Citylink is a long-distance express coach operator in Scotland and Ireland (where it operates as Irish Citylink) and England (where it operates as Stansted Citylink). The company was formed as a subsidiary of Scottish Transport Group i ...

in the summer, continuing on to Glasgow. Various independent bus companies link the smaller towns of Wester Ross, though online information is limited. A ferry connects Stornoway on Lewis with Ullapool on the mainland, taking about three hours. The county contains one airport -

- which provides passenger flights to destinations within Scotland as well as

London Southend London Southend Airport is an international airport situated on the outskirts of Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England, approximately from the Charing Cross#Official use as central point, centre of London. The airport straddles the boundaries b ...

Settlements

Mainland

View over Dingwall to Ben Wyvis, from Alcaig

Achnasheen Achnasheen (Gaelic ''Achadh na Sìne'') is a small village in Ross-shire in the Highland council area of Scotland. The village is situated on the River Bran at the junction of two roads built by Thomas Telford. Despite the size of the village, ...

Achiltibuie Achiltibuie (; gd, Achd Ille Bhuidhe or ''Field of the yellow-haired boy'') is a long linear village in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, on the Coigach coast of northwestern Scotland, overlooking Badentarbet Bay to the west. Loch Broom and the Summ ...

Alness Alness (, ; gd, Alanais) is a town and civil parishes in Scotland, civil parish in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. It lies near the mouth of the River Averon, near the Cromarty Firth, with the town of Invergordon 3 miles (5 km) to the east, an ...

Altandhu Altandhu is a small hamlet, overlooking the sea loch, Loch an Alltain Duibh to the west, on the western shore of the Rubha Mor Peninsula, in the Achiltibuie area, in Ullapool, Ross-shire, Scotland, within the Scottish council area of Highland. ...

Ardgay Ardgay ( gd, Àird Gaoith or ''Àird Ghaoithe'') high wind" - see below Further reading: MacGregoris a small Scottish village on the south west shore of the Dornoch Firth, Sutherland and is 1 mile south from Bonar Bridge and lies at the ent ...

Aultbea Aultbea (Gaelic: ''An t-Allt Beithe'') is a small fishing village in the North-West Highlands of Scotland. It is situated on the southeast shore of Loch Ewe, about 30 km west of Ullapool. The village has a Primary School and a small Post Off ...

Badenscallie Achiltibuie (; gd, Achd Ille Bhuidhe or ''Field of the yellow-haired boy'') is a long linear village in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, on the Coigach coast of northwestern Scotland, overlooking Badentarbet Bay to the west. Loch Broom and the Summer ...

* Balintore *

Barbaraville Barbaraville ( gd, An Cladach) is a small settlement on the north shore of Nigg Bay in the Cromarty Firth in the Highland (council area), Highland council area of Scotland. Housing dates from 1820 on when local people were allowed to build on p ...

Conon Bridge Conon Bridge ( gd, Drochaid Sguideil, ) is a small village in the Highland region of Scotland. The current Gaelic name is likely a neologism: the bridge was not built until the early 19th century and some early gravestones show the name sgudal or ...

Contin Contin (Gaelic: Cunndainn) is a Ross-shire village, and a civil parish and community council area between Strathpeffer and Garve in the Highland council area of Scotland. The parish has a population of 675.Cromarty Cromarty (; gd, Cromba, ) is a town, civil parish and former royal burgh in Ross and Cromarty, in the Highland area of Scotland. Situated at the tip of the Black Isle on the southern shore of the mouth of Cromarty Firth, it is seaward from In ...

Culrain Culrain (Cul Raoin) is a small village in Sutherland, Highland, Scotland. Location It lies west of Ardgay, beside the Kyle of Sutherland about west from the village of Bonar Bridge, where several rivers converge to flood into the sea through l ...

* Diabaig *

Dornie Dornie ( gd, An Dòrnaidh) is a small former fishing village in the Lochalsh district in western Ross-shire Highlands of Scotland (2006 census). It is near the meeting point of Loch Duich, Loch Alsh and Loch Long. The A87, the main road to ...

Dundonnell Dundonnell (Gaelic: Achadh Dà Dhòmhnaill) is a village in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, on the south side of Little Loch Broom and at the foot of An Teallach, right at the north of the area commonly known as the " Great Wilderness". It is situat ...

Edderton Edderton ( gd, Eadardan) is a village near Tain, lying on the shores of the Dornoch Firth, Easter Ross and is in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has approximately 388 inhabitants. It is the location of the Balblair Distillery, and of t ...

Evanton Evanton ( gd, Baile Eòghainn or gd, Am Baile Ùr) is a small village in Easter Ross, in the Highland council area of Scotland. It lies between the River Sgitheach and the Allt Graad, is north of Inverness, some south-west of Alness, and ...

* Fearn *

Garve Garve () is a village on the Black Water river, in Ross-shire, and is in the Highland Council area of Scotland. It is situated northwest of Contin, on the A835, the main road to Ullapool on the west coast, close to where the A832 branches off ...

Gairloch Gairloch ( ; gd, Geàrrloch , meaning "Short Loch") is a village, civil parish and community on the shores of Loch Gairloch in Wester Ross, in the North-West Highlands of Scotland. A tourist destination in the summer months, Gairloch has a go ...

Hill of Fearn Hill of Fearn ( gd, Baile an Droma) is a small village near Tain in Easter Ross, in the Scottish council area of Highland. Geography The village is on the B9165 road, between the A9 trunk road and the smaller hamlet of Fearn to the southeast ...

Inver Inver () is a small village in County Donegal, Ireland. It lies on the N56 National secondary road midway between Killybegs to the west and Donegal Town to the east. It is also a civil parish in the historic barony of Banagh. History Inver i ...

Invergordon Invergordon (; gd, Inbhir Ghòrdain or ) is a town and port in Easter Ross, in Ross and Cromarty, Highland (council area), Highland, Scotland. It lies in the parish of Rosskeen. History The town built up around the harbour which was establish ...

Inverinate Inverinate ( gd, Inbhir Ìonaid) is a small linear village on the north shore of Loch Duich in Lochalsh, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scotland, Scottish council area of Highland Council area, Highland. History A prominent family of tacksman ...

Jemimaville Jemimaville is a small village in the Highland region of Scotland. It sits on the northern coast of the Black Isle, overlooking the Cromarty Firth. The village is west of Cromarty and south of Invergordon on the opposite shore of the firth. It ...

Kildary Kildary ( gd, Caoldaraigh) is a small village in Easter Ross, Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. The village is located on the Balnagown River and is bordered by Balnagown Castle and the Balnagown estate, owned by Mohamed Al Fayed, former ...

Kilmuir, Black Isle Kilmuir (from the Scottish Gaelic ''Cille Mhoire'', meaning Mary's Church) is a former fishing village, located on the north coast of the Moray Firth in the Black Isle and is in the Scottish council area of Highland. Kilmuir is located northea ...

Kilmuir, Easter Ross Kilmuir is a former fishing village, located on the north eastern shore of Nigg Bay, southeast of Kildary and northeast of Invergordon. Geography The village of Kilmuir is within the former parish of Kilmuir Easter. The parish was situated p ...

Kinlochewe Kinlochewe ( gd, Ceann Loch Iù or ) is a village in Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It is in the parish of Gairloch, the community of Torridon and Kinlochewe and the Highland council area. It lies near the head of Loch Maree ...

Kyle of Lochalsh Kyle of Lochalsh (from the Scottish Gaelic, Gaelic ''Caol Loch Aillse'', "strait of the foaming loch") is a village in the historic county of Ross-shire on the northwest coast of Scotland, located around west-southwest of Inverness. It is loca ...

Laide Laide ( gd, An Leathad) is a small village in the northwest of the Highlands of Scotland. It is situated on the southern shore of Gruinard Bay, about 30 km west of Ullapool. Laide Wood Situated just outside Laide on the A832 heading West ...

Lochcarron Lochcarron ( gd, Loch Carrann) is a village, community and civil parish in the Wester Ross area of Highland, Scotland. It has a population of 923. Locality The name Lochcarron is also applied to the collection of small settlements strung out al ...

Marybank Marybank is a small village in Ross-shire, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland. The village of Muir of Ord lies south east of Marybank, along the A832 road. The village of Contin Contin (Gaelic: Cunndainn) i ...

Maryburgh Maryburgh ( gd, Baile Màiri) is a village in the Highland council area of Scotland, south of Dingwall. It is situated on the northern bank of the River Conon. The village of Conon Bridge Conon Bridge ( gd, Drochaid Sguideil, ) is a small vil ...

Milton Milton may refer to: Names * Milton (surname), a surname (and list of people with that surname) ** John Milton (1608–1674), English poet * Milton (given name) ** Milton Friedman (1912–2006), Nobel laureate in Economics, author of '' Free t ...

Muir of Ord Muir of Ord ( gd, Am Blàr Dubh) is a village in Easter Ross, in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is situated near the western end of the Black Isle, about west of the city of Inverness and south of Dingwall. The village has a populatio ...

*Mulbuie *

Munlochy Munlochy ( ; Scottish Gaelic: ''Poll Lochaidh'') is a small village, lying at the head of Munlochy Bay (''Ob Poll Lochaidh''), in the Black Isle in Ross and Cromarty, in northern Scotland. There are few early records of a settlement, but it see ...

* Nigg *

North Kessock North Kessock (Scottish Gaelic, Gaelic: ''Ceasag a Tuath'' or ''Aiseag Cheasaig'') is a village on the Black Isle north of Inverness. Description North Kessock is the first village encountered over the Kessock Bridge. Now bypassed by the main ro ...

Polbain Polbain is a remote crofting township, located on the north Badentarbat Bay on the west coast of Scotland, in western Ross-shire, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland. The township lies northwest of the village o ...

Polglass Polglass ( gd, Am Poll Glas) is a long crofting township, lying on the north shore of the sea loch, Loch Broom in Ullapool Ross-shire, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland Highlands or uplands are areas of high ...

Poolewe Poolewe ( gd, Poll Iù) is a small village in Wester Ross in the North West Highlands of Scotland, about northwest of Inverness, by Loch Ewe. The River Ewe, one of the shortest in Scotland, joins the sea less than from Inverewe Garden, renowned ...

Portmahomack Portmahomack ( gd, Port Mo Chalmaig; 'Haven of My .e. 'Saint'Colmóc') is a small fishing village in Easter Ross, Scotland. It is situated in the Tarbat Peninsula in the parish of Tarbat. Tarbat Ness Lighthouse is about from the village at t ...

*Reraig *Rieff *

Shieldaig Shieldaig ( gd, Sìldeag; on, síld- vík, lit= herring bay)W. J. Watson''Place-names of Ross and Cromarty'' 1904, p. 208. is a village in Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland. Geography ...

* Strathcarron *

Strathpeffer Strathpeffer ( gd, Srath Pheofhair) is a village and spa town in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland, with a population of 1,469. Geography It lies in a strath west of Dingwall, with the elevation ranging from above sea level. Sheltered on ...

Stromeferry Stromeferry ( gd, Port an t-Sròim) is a village, located on the south shore of the west coast sea loch, Loch Carron, in western Ross-shire, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland. Its name reflects its former role as ...

Torridon Torridon (Scottish Gaelic: ''Toirbheartan'') is a small village in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. However the name is also applied to the area surrounding the village, particularly the Torridon Hills, mountains to the north of Glen Torrido ...

Ullapool Ullapool (; gd, Ulapul ) is a village and port located in Northern Scotland. Ullapool has a population of around 1,500 inhabitants. It is located around northwest of Inverness in Ross and Cromarty, Scottish Highlands. Despite its modest size, ...

Isle of Lewis

* Achmore *

Adabrock Adabrock ( gd, Adabroc), is a village in the area of Ness, Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Adabrock is within the parish of Barvas, and is situated on the B8015 between Lionel and Eorodale. It is at the northern tip of Lewis, south-west ...

Aignish Aignish ( gd, Aiginis) is located northwest of Knock and east of Stornoway on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The township is at the island side of the isthmus connecting to the Eye peninsula. Aignish is wit ...

* Aird *

Aird Uig Aird Uig ( gd, Àird Ùig) is a village on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Aird Uig is within the parish of Uig, Lewis, Uig, and is situated on the C40 minor road which joins to the B8011 at Timsgarry. The township includes ...

*Airidhbhruaich *

Arnol Arnol ( gd, Àrnol) is a small village typical of many settlements of the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Arnol is within the parish of Barvas, and is situated on the A858 road (Great Britain), A858. Once a thri ...

Back The human back, also called the dorsum, is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck. It is the surface of the body opposite from the chest and the abdomen. The vertebral column run ...

Balallan Balallan ( gd, Baile Ailein, Bail' Ailein), meaning "Allan's Town", is a crofting township on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Balallan is within the parish of Lochs. The township has the distinction of being the longest vil ...

Ballantrushal Ballantrushal ( gd, Baile an Truiseil) is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the West Side district, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Ballantrushal is within the parish of Barvas, and is situated on the A857. The standing stone Clach an Trushal ...

Barvas Barvas (Scottish Gaelic: ''Barabhas'' or ''Barbhas'', ) is a settlement, community and civil parish on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. It developed around a road junction. The A857 and A858 meet at the southern end of Barvas. North is the road ...

* Borve *

Bragar Bragar ( gd, Bràgar, ) is a village on the west side of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, from the island's only town, Stornoway. Bragar is within the parish of Barvas, and is situated on the A858 between Carloway and Barvas. ...

Branahuie Branahuie ( gd, Bràigh na h-Aoidhe) is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Branahuie is within the parish of Stornoway, and is situated on the A866. It is also close to Stornoway, Stornoway Airport and Melbost ...

Brue Brue ( gd, Brù) is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the West Side district, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It is a crofting township and it is composed of two areas: Am Baile Staigh, which is nearer the coast, and Pàirc Bhrù, which runs to ...

Breaclete Breacleit (or Roulanish; gd, Breacleit; Old Norse: ''Breiðiklettr'') is the central village on Great Bernera in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Breaclete is within the parish of Uig. Although the village name comes from a geographical feature r ...

* Breanish *

Breasclete Breasclete ( gd, Brèascleit) is a village and community on the west side of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Breasclete is within the parish of Uig, and is situated adjacent to the A858. History Breasclete has several ston ...

Calbost Calbost ( gd, Calabost) is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Calbost is within the parish of Lochs, and within the district of Pairc. Calbost is known for its pretty scenery and lively fishing scene. On November 16 ...

Callanish Callanish ( gd, Calanais) is a village (township) on the west side of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles), Scotland. Callanish is within the parish of Uig. A linear settlement with a jetty, it is on a headland jutting into ...

*Carishader *

Carloway Carloway ( gd, Càrlabhagh, IPA: �kʰaːɾɫ̪ə.ɤː is a crofting township and a district on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The district has a population of around 500. Carloway township is within the pari ...

*Caverstay *

Cliff In geography and geology, a cliff is an area of rock which has a general angle defined by the vertical, or nearly vertical. Cliffs are formed by the processes of weathering and erosion, with the effect of gravity. Cliffs are common on co ...

Coll Coll (; gd, Cola; sco, Coll)Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 31 is an island located west of the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Coll is known for its sandy beaches, which rise to form large sand dunes, for its corncrakes, and ...

Cromore Cromore ( gd, Crò Mòr) is a crofting township on the Isle of Lewis in the district of Pairc, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The settlement is within the parish of Lochs. Cromore is about 27 miles away by road from Stornoway, the nearest town ...

Cross A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a sa ...

Crossbost Crossbost is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the parish of North Lochs, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It is located approximately ten miles away from Stornoway, the main town on the island. Due to its close proximity to the main island tow ...

*Crowlista * Dalbeg *Eagleton *

Eorodale Eorodale ( gd, Eòradal) is a settlement in the community of Ness, on Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Eorodale is within the parish of Barvas Barvas (Scottish Gaelic: ''Barabhas'' or ''Barbhas'', ) is a settlement, community and civil ...

Eoropie Eoropie ( gd, Eòrapaidh) is the most northerly village on the Isle of Lewis in the parish of Ness, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Eoropie is within the parish of Barvas. The Teampull Mholuaidh is to be found here. Eoropie is situated at the e ...

Fivepenny Fivepenny ( gd, Na Còig Peighinnean) is one of the many villages in the Lewis district of Ness (Nis in Gaelic) and part of the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Fivepenny is within the parish of Barvas, and is situated on the B8014, bet ...

Flesherin Flesherin ( gd, Na Fleisirean) is a small village on the Point peninsula of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Located near Portnaguran, the village has a population of around 100. Flesherin is within the parish of Stornoway. Flesherin ...

Garynahine Garynahine ( gd, Gearraidh na h-aibhne) is a settlement on Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Garynahine is situated at a T-junction where roads from Stornoway, Uig and the west side of Lewis all meet. The roads are the A858 and the B8011 ...

*Garyvard *Geishader * Gisla *

Gravir Gravir ( gd, Grabhair), is a village on the shore of Loch Odhairn (a sea loch) in the Park district of the Isle of Lewis. Gravir is within the parish of Lochs. There is a Free Church, a school and a voluntary fire station in the village. There is ...

Gress Gress ( gd, Griais), a hamlet on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, is adjacent to the larger village of Back. Gress is within the parish of Stornoway. Between 1919 and 1921, Gress – along with nearby Coll and Tong – was the scene of several la ...

*Grimshader *

Habost Habost ( gd, Tàbost) is the name of two crofting townships on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. One is in the Ness area at the northern tip of the island at and is home to an arts and music centre. It is a traditional area o ...

*Hacklete *

Holm Holm may refer to: Places * Holm (island), the name of several islands * Holm, Nordfriesland, Germany * Holm, Pinneberg, Germany * Holm (Flensburg), Flensburg, Germany * Holm, Norway, in Nordland county * Holm, Troms, Norway * Holm, Podu Iloa ...

*Islivik *Keose *Keose Glebe *Kershader *

Kirkibost Kirkibost ( gd, Eilean Chirceaboist) is a low-lying island west of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Geography Kirkibost, along with neighbouring Baleshare, is covered by a machair system of coastal plains covered with shell sand, p ...

Kneep Kneep ( gd, Cnìp) is a village on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Kneep is within the parish of Uig. Various archaeological discoveries have been made at Kneep, including a Viking cemetery and a number of Viking burials, ...

* Knockaird *Laxay *

Laxdale Laxdale ( gd, Lacasdal) is a village in the Scottish Outer Hebrides, on the Isle of Lewis. Although nominally a distinct village, Laxdale is now effectively a suburb of Stornoway. Laxdale is also within the parish of Stornoway. There is a school ...

*Lemreway *

Leurbost Leurbost () is a village on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It is approximately south of Stornoway on the road to Harris. It is the main settlement in the area of the island known as North Lochs. Leurbost i ...

* Lionel *

Lower Bayble Bayble ( gd, Pabail) is a large village in Point (''An Rubha''), on the Isle of Lewis, east of Stornoway. Bayble is also within the parish of Stornoway. There are around 400 people living in Bayble. It is separated into Upper and Lower Bayb ...

*Mangursta *Marvig *

*Meavik *

Melbost Melbost ( gd, Mealabost) is a traditionally Gaelic-speaking village in Point on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis, in Scotland's north-west. It is largely a crofting township and is about east of Stornoway at the head of an isthmus connecti ...

* Newmarket * Newvalley *

North Dell North Dell ( gd, Dail bho Thuath) is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the community of Ness, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. North Dell is within the parish of Barvas. It lies 5 km south of the Butt of Lewis, between the settlements of ...

*North Galson *

North Tolsta North Tolsta ( gd, Tolastadh bho Thuath) is a village in the Scottish Outer Hebrides, on the east side of the Isle of Lewis. North Tolsta is within the parish of Stornoway. Tolsta is notable for its long sandy beach Traigh Mhor At the end of ...

Orinsay Orinsay ( gd, Orasaigh) is a crofting village on the Isle of Lewis in the district of Pairc, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The settlement is within the parish of Lochs. Orinsay is from Stornoway, the major town of the Isle of Lewis, by Ro ...

Parkend Parkend is a village, located at the foot of the Cannop Valley, in the Royal Forest of Dean, West Gloucestershire, England, and has a history dating back to the early 17th century. During the 19th century it was a busy industrial village with se ...

Plasterfield Plasterfield ( gd, Raon na Crèadha) is a hamlet in the Scottish Outer Hebrides, on the Isle of Lewis. Plasterfield is within the parish of Stornoway. Plasterfield is a suburb of Stornoway and consists of two groups of houses, (built after Worl ...

Portnaguran Portnaguran () is a settlement situated within Point, on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Portnaguran is the township at the north-easternmost point of the peninsula. It lies southwest of Tiumpan Head and just south of the hea ...

Port of Ness A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...

Portvoller Portvoller ( gd, Port Mholair) is a small village on the north tip of the Eye Peninsula (which along with Melbost and Parkend makes up Point), on the Isle of Lewis in northwestern Scotland. It is on the A866 from the Outer Hebrides' only town, ...

*Ranish * Sandwick *

Shader In computer graphics, a shader is a computer program that calculates the appropriate levels of light, darkness, and color during the rendering of a 3D scene - a process known as ''shading''. Shaders have evolved to perform a variety of spec ...

Shawbost Shawbost ( gd, Siabost) is a large village in the West Side of the Isle of Lewis. The village of Shawbost has a population of around 500 and lies around west of Lewis's capital Stornoway. Shawbost is within the parish of Barvas. A recent develop ...

*Sheshader *Shieldenish *

Shulishader Shulishader () is a small village with a population of around 120 people in Point, Outer Hebrides on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. Located on the north-western side of the Eye Peninsula, it overlooks Broad Bay. Most of the village is over 60m ...

Skigersta Skigersta ( gd, Sgiogarstaigh) is a village to the south east of Ness on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It is the easternmost settlement in the Ness district and is 5km (3miles) southeast of the Butt of Lewis. Skigersta is ...

South Dell South Dell ( gd, Dail-bho-Dheas) is a village on the Isle of Lewis in the community of Ness, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. South Dell is within the parish of Barvas, and is situated alongside the A857. The Dell River separates South and No ...

* South Galson *

Steinish Steinish ( gd, Steinnis, IPA: �ʃtʰʲeɲɪʃ is a village in the Scottish Outer Hebrides, on the Isle of Lewis, near Plasterfield and Stornoway Airport. Steinish is situated within the parish of Stornoway, and is also situated adjacent to t ...

* Swainbost *

Timsgarry Timsgarry ( gd, Tuimisgearraidh) is a village on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Timsgarry is home to the Baile na Cille Church and the Uig Museum, noted for its giant Chessmen, discovered in the sands in 1831. Geography T ...

*Tobson *

Tong Tong may refer to: Chinese *Tang Dynasty, a dynasty in Chinese history when transliterated from Cantonese *Tong (organization), a type of social organization found in Chinese immigrant communities *''tong'', pronunciation of several Chinese char ...

Upper Bayble Bayble ( gd, Pabail) is a large village in Point (''An Rubha''), on the Isle of Lewis, east of Stornoway. Bayble is also within the parish of Stornoway. There are around 400 people living in Bayble. It is separated into Upper and Lower Bayble ...

*Valtos

References

External links

Encyclopædia Britannica, Ross and Cromarty
{{Authority control Lieutenancy areas of Scotland Districts of Scotland Former counties of Scotland

Geography

Islands

Mainland

Lewis

North Rona

Economy and population

Parliamentary constituency

Local government

County

District

Since 1996

Civil parishes

Registration county

Lieutenancy area

Transport

Settlements

Mainland

Isle of Lewis

See also

References

Further reading

External links