Long Shadow

Long Shadow, originally uploaded by Kedza.

The photographer's shadow on the beach at Nairn.

This photo was taken on October 7, 2010

See more Shadow Shot Sunday posts at Hey Harriet.

Quayside

Taken 8th October 2010 © Copyright Peter Moore and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

See more weekend reflections at Newton Area Photo.

Daviot War Memorial

Daviot War Memorial, originally uploaded by Duncan Brown (Cradlehall).

A few miles south of Inverness, lies the parish of Daviot and Dunlichity and this is their war memorial commemorating parishioners who lost their lives in the World Wars.

Photo taken 27th September 2010.

Shore Street Roundabout

Shore Street Roundabout

The most important road meeting here is the A82, which goes from left to right across the picture. The road in the immediate foreground is Castle Street, the continuation of Academy Street. It is part of the B865 road.

Taken 3rd October 2010 © Copyright P L Chadwick and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Grant Park, Forres.

Grant Park Forres Morayshire Scotland, originally uploaded by conner395.

The sunken gardens.

Forres in Morayshire is one of Scotland's oldest small towns, and also one of its most attractive.

Forres is situated just off the A96 Inverness/Aberdeen trunk road, about 27 miles east of the Highland capital of Inverness.

The town's impressive parks and gardens with outstanding floral sculptures have led to many awards from the prestigious Britain and Scotland in Bloom competitions. See Forresweb.

The jewel in the crown of Forres is Grant Park, close to the centre of the town and at the foot of the wooded Cluny Hill, on top of which is sited a tower commemorating Nelson's victory at Trafalgar.

As well as providing lots of green recreational space for the locals, Grant Park (donated to the town in 1924 by Sir Alexander Grant Bt) also hosts the Annual Highland Games, and has two superb horticultural display areas, one a series of themed displays within a meadow and the other the sunken garden. The old estate road passes through the park, lined with ancient conifers.

Although the cold winds of winter have sent their first notice, and the displays are past their best, they are still simply breathtaking.

Photo taken 26th September 2010.

Car Park People

Car Park People, originally uploaded by Duncan Brown (Cradlehall).

Is there a story here in this Inverness car park?

Is the car park attendant following the lassie to give her a ticket for drinking in his car park?!

This photo was taken on July 3, 2010

Lovely afternoon

Lovely afternoon, originally uploaded by merkincher.

Warm and mild for October. Inverness High street Thursday 7th.2010.

Minor road near Dunlichity

Minor road near Dunlichity

Taken 5th October 2010 © Copyright Steven Brown and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

See more Shadow Shot Sunday posts at Hey Harriet.

Weekend Reflections:Greig Street footbridge

Inverness - Bridge, originally uploaded by nrok999.

Greig Street footbridge, Inverness as a storm approaches.

This photo was taken on July 5, 2010

See more weekend reflections at Newton Area Photo.

See also Sunday Bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Culloden Battlefield

Culloden, originally uploaded by Jo Duggan.

This photo was taken on September 5, 2010 looking across the battlefield from the Clan graves.

Blackfriars Abbey (Greyfriars Cemetery)

Blackfriars Abbey (Greyfriars Cemetery) Inverness Scotland, originally uploaded by conner395.

This sandstone pillar which has had recent repair work to keep it standing is one of only two remnants of the Blackfriars Abbey.

The 1935 portion of the Telephone Exchange can be seen directly behind, with the newer building and the connecting "bridge" reflected in the windows!

In 1233 AD a Dominican Friary was constructed in Inverness. It was located on the edge of the Town Centre, directly opposite St Michael’s Mound, where St Columba of Iona is said to have preached in 565 AD. There has been a church on that site since Celtic times, where the Old High Church currently stands.

The Friary or Abbey (Blackfriars) was disbanded in 1556 at the time of the Reformation, and the building soon fell into disrepair. In 1567 Queen Mary (Mary Queen of Scots, mother of King James VI and I) awarded the lands and church buildings of the Dominicans to the Council and Community of Inverness. In 1653 the Town of Inverness sold the ruinous buildings to Oliver Cromwell's local representative for use in construction of the Citadel at Inverness Harbour (several other large disused church buildings in the area also suffered a similar fate, and what stone remained was later used in the construction of the Castle.

In 1935 a smart new Telephone Exchange was constructed in Friars Lane, on the west extremity of the Town Centre proper. It was built of sandstone, and despite its modern look ,the colour of the stone makes it blend in. The land on which it is located was where the Abbey's School had stood and the Exchange backed on to the Blackfriars graveyard - now confusingly called Greyfriars! This graveyard would have been within the actual abbey building, and nowadays only a sandstone pillar and an effigy of a knight (now mounted on a wall) remain of the actual building. The gravestones still legible all appear to be more recent, mainly 18th century.

In the 1970s, as telecommunications became more prolific (but before miniaturisation took full hold) there was a need to extend the Telephone Exchange, but it was not possible due to the ancient graveyard, although other land further down Friars Street was available. A novel solution was adopted, with a "bridge" (an enclosed corridor) at first floor level being used to provide access between the two buildings without disturbing those resting beneath.

The history of the Old High Church (including the Blackfriars Abbey): http://www.oldhighststephens.com/html/old_high_history.html

This photo was taken on August 26, 2010

Strathnairn Vintage Rally & Display

Strathnairn Vintage Rally & Display, originally uploaded by IrenicRhonda.

Strathnairn Farmers Association Agricultural Working Vintage Rally & Display Day (its full title!) is an annual one day event held in September. It all happens in a field at Daviot Farm, about 6 miles south of Inverness.

Taken 18th September 2010.

Keith Town Station

This is the Keith end of the preserved railway to Dufftown. The station building was brought from Kennethmont to replace the vanished original building. The tower of St Rufus, the parish kirk of Keith, rises above the station. Unfortunately the view is spoiled by the rubbish-strewn foreground.

Taken 6th February 2008 © Copyright Anne Burgess and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Seaforth House, Maryburgh

Seaforth House overlooks the village of Maryburgh near Dingwall. It was built in 1907 by the Earl of Cromarty. It has been a sanatorium, an auxiliary hospital, a children's home and a training centre. It is now a charitable non-profit making nursing and respite care home.

Taken 9th May 2006 © Copyright John Allan and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Findhorn Viaduct

Findhorn Viaduct, originally uploaded by The Poss.

Findhorn Viaduct carrying Inverness to Perth railway over river Findhorn at Tomatin.

Taken 31st August 2010.

See more Sunday Bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

River Beauly

River Beauly, Inverness-shire, originally uploaded by Kenneth Mands.

River Beauly half a mile upstream from Lovat Bridge.

Taken 18th September 2010

See more weekend reflections at Newton Area Photo.

Drumsmittal Lane

This is a beautiful shortcut between Munlochy and the North Kessock junction on the A9.

Taken 12th July 2006 © Copyright Nick R and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Craig Phadrig

Forestry Commission woodland around a rocky hill on the west side of Inverness.

Taken 8th April 2009 © Copyright Mike Pennington and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Northern Constabulary Burnett Road Police Station

Northern Constabulary Burnett Road Police Station Inverness Scotland, originally uploaded by conner395.

View along the side of building (from Burnett Road)

The Operational Base for the City of Inverness and environs, this station opened in 1999, built on the site of the former Post Office Garage. Located just over the North Rail line from the City Centre, it is just within the Longman Industrial EState.

When the Force HQ was designated for re-construction during the 1990s, it was decided to separate the Inverness Area Policing location from the Headquarters complex. Prior to that, the previous HQ building had housed both functions (including cell block) since 1975.

The first purpose-built police station in the Town of Inverness was that of the Burgh Police Chambers in Castle Wynd (opposite the Town Hall) but along with all buildings on the south side of Bridge Street, this was demolished in the late 1950's/early 1960's for road-widening for the approach road in respect of the new Ness Bridge.

Thereafter the Burgh Police re-located "temporarily" (an interesting and somewhat elastic word in police parlance!!) to the former Dr Bell's School in Farraline Park, beside Inverness Bus Station.

That building - now the City Library - served as Inverness's police station (and local Court) until 1975.

Relocation of all policing services to the HQ at Old Perth road, meant for the first time there was no police office within the Town Centre proper, (albeit there was a police presence, and daytime public counter, at Inverness Castle, where lost and found property, court support, community involvement/crime prevention, and traffic wardens were based) and the Force duly took occupancy of a small shop unit within the Victorian Market, to provide a cetral point of public contact. Such stop-gap provision soon proved too small and a larger unit wihin the Market, on its corner with Academy Street, was later taken into use.

As the need for additional space grew at Force HQ, so did the local policing requirements and the "Market Office" was totally inadequate as a proper police station.

Thus a much larger property on two floors (ground and basement) , in Queensgate adjacent to the Main Post Office was occupied in the early 1990's. This was the base of the newly-introduced Sector Policing for the West and Centre sectors of Inverness. The other Town Sector (East) remained at Force HQ, until the new building at Burnett Road opened in 1999, and all operational staff in respect of Inverness Area Command relocated there, as did some HQ functions (Dog Section and Control Centre).

Taken 5th September 2010.

A Splendid Arch at the Abbey

This arch has survived almost intact among the ruins of Kinloss Abbey. The marble slabs through the arch are in memory of the various members of the Dunbar family.

Taken 26th July 2010 © Copyright Ann Harrison and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Pipeline Crossing

A pipeline bridge at Conon Bridge midway between the road and rail crossings of the River Conon.

Taken 26th July 2010 © Copyright Andrew Wood and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Inverarnie

Invernarnie, near Inverness, originally uploaded by Duncan Brown (Cradlehall).

Here is a fine pair of highland coos beside the stone circle at Inverarnie, a few miles south of Inverness.

This photo was taken on September 10, 2010

Ness Islands

Ness Islands on River Ness Inverness Scotland, originally uploaded by conner395.

The South Main Island. The West main channel is behind the islet, and natural weirs race down either side of the islet.

The River Ness is a relatively short river extending from Loch Dochfour (Loch Ness) to the Beauly Firth (North Sea) at Inverness, a distance of some 7 miles. Much of its flow is through the centre of the city of Inverness, and it is comparatively shallow but with deep pools. Midway down its course is a series of islets which at one time were probably one piece of land, but nowadays the Ness Islands comprise a large number of close islets. In Victorian days "the Islands" were a popular promade, out from Inverness along one river bank path, crossing through the islands via the network of small footbridges, and then back into the Town Centre via the other bank of the river. The Islands are owned by the people of Inverness and are maintained by Highland Council. They remain a popular walk and also a short cut on foot, from one side of the city to the other, the nearest road access being in the City Centre itself a good mile downstream.

At this time of the year (arrival of autumn) the area is in all its glory as the leaves on the deciduous trees begin to turn. Even on a dull evening the many colours of green and the clear (peat-tinged) water look so pure and fresh and clean.

Read more about the Islands and the River Ness itself in
Steve Spencer's excellent website.

This photo was taken on September 17, 2010

Allt a' Chùil

Looking upstream along the burn towards the grouse moors by Carn Mor. The burn is a tributary of the River Findhorn.

Taken 19th August 2010 © Copyright John Allan and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Far North Railway Line from Rose Street Bridge

Far North Railway Line from Rose Street Bridge Inverness Scotland, originally uploaded by conner395.

Looking north (with Inverness Railway Station behind) the line to Dingwall (and thence to Kyle of Lochalsh and Wick & Thurso) stretches out in front.

A closer look will show that the line bends to the right, which is immediately after it has crossed the River Ness by viaduct (replaced 1990 after the orignal bridge was washed away in floods in 1989).

The first railway in the Highlands was that between Inverness and Nairn (opened Nov 1855) and the extension north as far as Dingwall did not open until 1862.

On the right of this photo however and separated from the main line by a fence, is the EQUAL first line in the Highlands, also opened in Nov 1855.

The Inverness Harbour Branch only remained open to passenger traffic until 1867 but goods traffic (and the extensive coal yard) remained in use until the 1980s.

Trains of goods vehicles descended a steep decline alongside the Ness Rail Bridge and then negotiated a very sharp right hand bend to bring the wagons alongside the harbour-side.

That branch was greatly expanded for the duration of the First World War for the war effort.

Sadly these two abandoned sidings are all that remain of that ancient line (and coal yard) and what was once a hive of industry.

Taken 4th September 2010

From the summit of Beinn Bhuidhe Mhor

The flat moorland summit of Beinn Bhuidhe Mhor looking north east over the Moray Firth with Ben Wyvis clearly visible in the distance over 25 miles away

Taken 8th November 2009 © Copyright Nick Forward and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Loch Ness Marathon Finish

Inverness - The finish of the Loch Ness Marathon - 2009-10-04--15.18.05 (18).jpg, originally uploaded by djnisbet.

The finish of the Loch Ness Marathon - 4th October 2009.

Kessock Bridge

Kessock Bridge, originally uploaded by Duncan Brown (Cradlehall).

This is a tourist boat about to pass under the Kessock Bridge heading out into the Moray Firth to do a bit of dolphin spotting. Photograph taken August 30th 2010 from the lifeboat station at North Kessock.

Station Square, Inverness

Station Square, Inverness, originally uploaded by RPFaither.

Early 20th century postcard.

Posted in 1960 from NORWAY!!

Rait Castle, near Nairn

Now a ruin, Rait Castle is a rare example of a "hall castle". It has a fascinating and bloody history. Feuded over at various times by the Mackintoshes and the Cummings, it was abandoned in 1442 following a particularly gruesome incident - which also led to the belief that the castle is haunted by the ghost of a girl with no hands. Full story at Stand up for Rait Castle.

Taken 29th December 2008 © Copyright nairnbairn and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Interesting graffiti near Dores

Unusual design of tank. It is probably a water tank as there is a Scottish Water sign on a fence nearby.

Taken 25th April 2010 © Copyright Steven Brown and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The City Daily Photo theme is Graffiti. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants