INVERGORDON, a village and sea-port (small), in
the parish of Rosskeen, county of Ross and Cromarty,
19 miles (N. E.) from Dingwall; containing 998 inhabitants.
This place, which is situated on the north shore
of Cromarty Firth, at nearly an equal distance from
Tain and Dingwall, has greatly increased in importance
since the construction of a commodious harbour by
Roderick Mc Leod, Esq., in 1828, at a cost of more than
£5000. The village is neatly built, and the scenery derives
much additional beauty from the pleasure-grounds
of Invergordon Castle, in its immediate vicinity. A subscription
library has been established. A cattle-show
takes place annually; there are numerous inns for the
accommodation of travellers; and from its central situation,
the place is rapidly advancing. Invergordon harbour
is accessible to vessels of large burthen. The port
carries on an extensive trade in the exportation of grain,
cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, and all the various kinds of
agricultural produce; and is one of the most frequented
in Easter and Wester Ross. A substantial pier has been
erected for the loading and unloading of vessels, and
also a slip for building and repairing ships. A wooden
jetty has lately been added to the pier, in order to secure
a depth of ten feet water at ebb-tides; and the trade of
the place is facilitated by a ferry across the Firth to
Cromarty. Facility of communication is also afforded by
good roads, and by steamers, which ply during the
summer months, weekly, to Inverness, Aberdeen, and
Leith, and every alternate week to London. The north
and south mails pass daily through the village. Fairs
for cattle, horses, agricultural produce, fish, and various
kinds of wares, are held on the first Thursdays in every
month throughout the year; on the second Tuesdays in
April, October, and December; on the third Tuesday in
February; and the first Tuesday in August.