Geo-Trips :: Black Isle east coast : Walk from Eathie to Hillockhead and on to Rosemarkie
East coast Black Isle
A walk from Eathie, Sun, 23 Aug 2015 by Julian Paren
The coast of the Black Isle north of Rosemarkie is trackless but may be walked along by the seashore, tides permitting. There are two places where a high tide prevents a way ahead. One between Rosemarkie and Hillockhead, at Scart Craig, and another between Hillockhead and Eathie. This Geotrip covers the whole route between Eathie and Rosemarkie, but the imagery is reserved for the section north of Hillockhead. Another Geotrip will provide the imagery for the Rosemarkie to Hillockhead section.
The walk is a linear walk and benefits from a lift to the start at Eathie. Rosemarkie is on a good bus route. This coast is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its rocks and coastal vegetation, and was made famous by the pioneering geological studies of Hugh Miller. The coast also contains the geological event - the Rosemarkie Inlier - and the striking salmon pink colour of the leucogranitic rock is great to find. Wildlife lovers have said it is great to be the first across the tidal sections because then you have the best chance to see otter tracks in the unwalked sand.
The walk from Eathie to Rosemarkie is 7.3 miles long, and with a lunch and exploring the rocks can take 4.5 hours. The walk starts by the Interpretation Boards near Eathie Mains before a walk by fields and a steep descent through woods to the coast.
On the map below, the grey line is the GPS track from this trip. Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
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Black Isle coastline below Craighead
A fine stretch of coast with hard sand to walk on. Just south of the tidal section... more
Walking the shoreline between Eathie and Rosemarkie
The route encompasses soft sand which is a pain to walk in, boulder fields which... more
Interior: Ammonite Bothy at Eathie Fishing Station
All set up in readiness for someone wishing to spend the night. At one time four... more
Beach of boulders south of Eathie
Not the easiest of terrains to walk over knowing there are six miles before you... more
Rock surface, Black Isle coast
So much history in the rocks that I cannot understand.
Lichen and coastal plants, Black Isle
Prolific cover hiding the true rock surface.
Barnacles and mussels on the Black Isle coast
Living on a strongly coloured rock.
Bedrock below Eathie Hill on the shore of the Black Isle
Differential weathering between the adjacent rock strata has produced this obelisk.
The tidal section of the Eathie to Hillockhead coastal walk
A short section of the Hillockhead to Eathie coastal walk is under water for part... more
Black Isle coastline below Craighead
Cut off by cliffs, this is a remote section of the coast between Rosemarkie and Eathie.
Coastal rocks below Craighead
Plenty of colour in the rocks and in the lichen - and some fascinating geological... more
Vertical strata in the bedrock below Craighead, Black Isle
Beautiful sand and a fine salmon-pink coloured band in the sedimentary rocks now... more
Interior of the Bothy, Eathie Fishing Station
A weatherproof place to spend some days. Less than 100 years ago four people... more
Geological Disconformity
I presume the intrusion is the salmon coloured leucogranitic rock of the... more
Lichens on the coastal rocks
A vivid splash of colour above the high tide line.
Secluded sandy beach on the Black Isle coast
An ideal place for a lunch stop on the walk from Eathie to Rosemarkie. And we... more
All images © Julian Paren and available under a
Creative Commons licence 
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