The Beauly Firth is a continuation of the Moray Firth, at a length of 7 miles from Inverness to Beauly. In 1999 it was awarded Special Protection Area status, and is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest, as well as being recognised as wetlands of international importance.
In Winter the Firth hosts approximately 30,000 birds of different species from wildfowl to waders and in the breeding season it is an important feeding area for Osprey and the Common Tern.
The Kessock Bridge is where the Moray and Beauly Firth meet and there is a chance to see dolphin’s, otters and porpoise, and at low tide the sand banks are used as haul out points by seals.
Prior to 1982 when the Kessock bridge opened, a ferry operated across the Firth in various forms, with records showing that the Dominican monks were granted a charter to operate a ferry between South and North Kessock in 1437 in order to make the pilgrimage to St Duthac Church in Tain.
It was mid-afternoon on 12th February 2011 when I took this shot, and I was just amazed at the reflections on the water, it felt incredibly serene.
