North Kessock

Coordinates: 57°30′01″N 4°14′59″W / 57.50015°N 4.24973°W / 57.50015; -4.24973

North Kessock
Scottish Gaelic: Ceasag a Tuath
North Kessock  North Kessock shown within the Highland council area
OS grid reference	NH652477
Council area	Highland
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Inverness
Postcode district	IV1 3
Police	Northern
Fire	Highlands and Islands
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
List of places: UK • Scotland •

North Kessock (Gaelic: Ceasag a Tuath or Aiseag Cheasaig^[1]) is a village on the Black Isle north of Inverness.

Description

North Kessock is the first village encountered over the Kessock Bridge. Now by-passed by the main road to the north (the A9), the village remains quiet.^[2] Its counterpart across the Beauly Firth, South Kessock, is a district of Inverness.

History

North Kessock probably existed as early as 1437, when the Dominican monastery in Inverness was granted a charter to operate a ferry to the Black Isle.^[2][3] This was on the pilgrim route north to St Duthac Church in Tain.

The Kessock Ferry connected North and South Kessock until 1982, when the Kessock Bridge was completed and opened.

Wildlife

North Kessock is a famous spot for watching bottlenose dolphins, which are resident in the Moray Firth - indeed they are the most northerly group of bottlenose dolphins in the world.^{[citation needed]} The Dolphin and Seal Centre, just north of the village (off the A9 road), is run by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. It is located in the Tourist Information car park, where there is also the Ralía Café or alternatively can be reached by a steep path leading from the village shop. The charity also runs the Wildlife Centre at Spey Bay.

See also

• Clootie well

Footnotes

1. ^ Maclean, Roddy (2004). The Gaelic Place Names and Heritage of Inverness. Inverness: Culcabock Pulishing. p. 79. ISBN 9780954892500. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "North Kessock". Undiscovered Scotland. http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/northkessock/northkessock/index.html. Retrieved 18 September 2009. 
3. ^ "North Kessock and District History". North Kessock and District Local History Society. http://www.northkessockhistory.com/index.asp?pageid=143475. Retrieved 18 September 2009.