Cromarty, the South Sutor and McFarquhar’s Bed

Distance: 7.1 km (4.4 miles)
Time: About 2 hours 30 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate

Cromarty’s best country circuit. Climb the hundred steps to the top of the South Sutor, then cross fields with wide views over the Moray Firth before an impressive drop to the shore at McFarquhar’s Bed.

The return climbs through what remains of a once-grand beech avenue, now much broken by storms, and comes back to Cromarty past Cromarty Mains and the side of Cromarty House. Route-finding through the fields beside Gallow Hill takes some care, and you will be reluctant to leave the shore.

Route, GPS track and photographs: Julian Paren on Geograph.

Along the way

Photos and notes from the photographer’s trip on Geograph, numbered in walking order. Select a photo or number to find the spot on the map.

The side of Gallow Hill
The abandoned oil rig serves to remind locals where the Cromarty Firth Port Authority wish to moor vessels for ship-to-ship oil transfers. Cromarty Rising is the local community group opposed to this and their petition has today 99,000 plus signatories, and hopes to meet the 100,000 target this week.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
Storm damaged trees above McFarquhar's Bed
The glorious beech avenue of former years is now a graveyard of magnificent trees. This is the end of the avenue.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
Moray Firth near McFarquhar's Bed
A view that shows Fort George and Chanonry Point almost closing the firth.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
McFarquhar's Bed from the access footpath
McFarquhar's Bed has two main arches and a very low tunnel you can scramble through at low tide. To appreciate the rock structure you need to descend to the beach and see it at sea level. McFarquhar's Bed was a popular outing in Victorian times.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
McFarquhar's Bed
This strange formation brings a few visitors each year to a very quiet beach and the chance to scramble and explore its many features.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
McFarquhar's Bed
A fine set of rocks from any angle. From this direction the arches are invisible.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
Coast at McFarquhar's Bed
A path leads south on the cliff top. To progress along the beach itself would be quite arduous. The mast that supplies digital TV to the Black Isle and beyond is visible above the cliffs.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
Beach by McFarquhar's Bed
Looking towards the north and the site of possible ship-to-ship oil transfers marked by the redundant oil rig.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
Beach beside McFarquhar's Bed
Behind the beach is a restored building and a loo perched above the stream that enters the bay. All mod cons.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
Outlook from Cromarty Mains
From Cromarty Mains there is a good view across the Cromarty Firth to the Global Energy yard at Nigg.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
Field of sheep at Cromarty
North Sutor is the promontory across the entrance to the Cromarty Firth.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0