North Kessock is the site of an ancient ferry route between Inverness and the Black Isle. The ferry ran, with various changes and modernisations, for 700 years, until the Kessock Bridge opened in 1982. The last car ferry, the Rosehaugh, is still fondly remembered, and the old ferry pier and seafront are a haven for birds, otters and other marine wildlife.
The main village is a long line of buildings along the shore, with a steep wooded hillside immediately behind. The rest of the community is scattered over the hillside and through the woods, and has grown a great deal.
Kilmuir
East of Kessock, and reached only by a winding country road, is the tiny village of Kilmuir. Hidden by hills and woodland, it can only be seen from the Kessock Bridge. It is a picturesque, compact village with its own beach and small bay. Once almost derelict, it has been revived and is now a thriving, active community.
Ord Hill and the shore road
The western side of Kessock is mainly farmland and small areas of woodland, while Ord Hill above the village is densely forested. It is a wonderful place for quiet walks on the forestry tracks, and for mushrooming in autumn. Hidden among the trees are the ruins of an Iron Age vitrified fort.
The flat, quiet shore road west to Redcastle, around five miles, is lovely on foot or by bike, with medieval fish traps, a crannog, seals and plenty of birdlife along the way. Just off the A9 above Kessock, the Drumsmittal road twists through farmland and woodland with wonderful views, an alternative route east to Munlochy.