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The Black Isle (Scottish Gaelic: an t-Eilean Dubh IPA: [ən̴̪ tʲelan d̪̊uh]) is an eastern area of the Highland local government council area of Scotland, within the county of Ross and Cromarty. The name nearly always includes the article "the".

It includes the town of Cromarty, and such villages as Conon Bridge, Muir of Ord, Munlochy, Avoch, Rosemarkie, Fortrose, Tore, and Culbokie.

Contents 1 Description 2 Castles 3 Economy 3.1 Black Isle Brewery 3.2 The Black Isle Show 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

Despite its name, the Black Isle is not an island, but a peninsula (Gaelic uses the same word, eilean, for both island and peninsula), surrounded on three sides by water – the Cromarty Firth to the north, the Beauly Firth to the south, and the Moray Firth to the east. On its fourth, western side, its boundary is delineated by rivers. The River Conon divides Maryburgh, a mile outside Dingwall, from Conon Bridge which is the first village on the Black Isle from the north-western side. Its southwestern boundary is variously considered to be marked by either a minor tributary of the River Beauly separating Beauly (in Inverness-shire) and Muir of Ord (on the Black Isle in Ross and Cromarty), dividing the 2 counties and also delineating the start of the Black Isle; or alternatively, the River Beauly itself, thus including Beauly in the Black Isle despite its official placement in Inverness-shire.^[1]

The Black Isle was one of the earliest parts of the northern Highlands to experience agricultural improvements,^[clarify] and was settled with many Lowland shepherds and farmers, especially from the north east.

The Black Isle was the site of a community protest against Genetically modified agriculture.^[2]

Bottlenose Dolphins are found in the Moray Firth.

Castles on the Black Isle include Castle Chanonry of Ross, and Ormond Castle.

Economic activities on the Black Isle include agriculture, tourism and forestry; it features a whisky distillery, Glen Ord (Diageo). The area also acts as a dormitory for Inverness.

Black Isle Brewery Ltd. is a small brewery near the village of Munlochy. The brewery makes a variety of beers including Yellowhammer, Red Kite Ale, Porter and Scotch Ale, along with a wheat beer and a blonde ale; all of their beers are organic.^[3]

The Black Isle Show takes place at Muir of Ord on the first Thursday in August every year.

• Easter Ross
• Wester Ross
• Ross-shire
• Cromartyshire
• Ross and Cromarty

• Listen to recordings of a speaker of Scots from the Black Isle