Shandwick Bay lies easily on the eastern seaboard of Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands, greeting the morning sunrise over the Moray Firth. With more than a mile of clean golden sands, the village of Shandwick has long been a favourite venue for local seaside day-trippers and tourists alike.

A former fishing village, Shandwick is the most southern of three villages, Hilton, Balintore and Shandwick, nowadays almost joined as one, and known locally as "the seaboard villages". The villages offer a small selection of shops and hotels. Just a few miles away lies the town of Tain - the oldest Royal Burgh in Scotland, and Invergordon - up until the post war years was a favourite Royal Navy base and anchorage. The entire area is dotted with small towns and villages - a particularly scenic part of the northern Highlands.

The bay itself is ideal for walkers and bird watching. Just a short walk along the sands from Naro-Moro you'll find the "well of health", a local beauty spot, and lovely views from the cliff tops. At the other end of the bay - a five minute walk - is Balintore with its harbour full of boats offering plenty of pleasure and fishing trips.

Overlooking the village from a short distance inland stands the Shandwick Stone. This is a relic from our Pictish past, estimated to date from the first centuary AD. It stands approximately 10ft above ground and is decorated with intricate carvings of Pictish symbols and a Christian cross. In former days the fishermen used the stone as a marker - a bearing point from which they judged their position out at sea.

... relish the present - savour the history ...