Welcome

Few places in Scotland are as self-contained as the Fearn Peninsula.

Projecting from the east coast of Ross and Cromarty, the area is as famous for its Pictish heritage and Viking influences as it is for rolling green countryside, maritime traditions and genuine highland community sprit.

The Seaboard Villages in particular were established by the substantial herring fishing industry, growing and declining accordingly. The communities of the Fearn Peninsula have always been heavily committed to agriculture: today’s mechanisation and modern techniques have reduced the number of people working the land, but have made the area one of Scotland’s most productive.

The traditional economy was boosted in the early 1970s when an oil platform fabrication yard was established at Nigg. Twenty years later a pipe spool assembly plant was constructed at Morrich Mhor near Inver. Both created significant employment and investment opportunities for resident and incoming populations, many of whom remain here in spite of a downturn in oil related activity.

The Fearn Peninsula area offers unparalleled views of the Moray, Dornoch and Cromarty Firths, with opportunities to spot dolphins and a variety of birds and wildlife. The geography of the area is attractive to walkers, cyclists and motorists and its local heritage encompasses historic churches, an outstanding legacy of Pictish monuments, great Scottish rural industrial heritage and eclectic cultural influences.

The Fearn Peninsula Partnership (FPP) comprises representatives from the communities of: Kilmuir and Logie Easter Nigg Fearn Inver Tarbat Seaboard Villages of Shandwick, Balintore and Hilton and was formed in 2002 to develop small-scale community-led projects that will hopefully bring economic benefits to the area.

The aims of the FPP are:

		to support the development of community capacity
		to invest in community-led and community-based services and infrastructure
		to invest in the community development of natural and cultural resource based activity

The priorities for the FPP are:

		the development of the area's natural and cultural heritage
		the development of visitor information and activities
		the development of local festivals and events
		the development of community halls

This community website was developed along with a local Graveyard Recording project linked to this site that has mapped the graveyards and recorded the inscriptions of all the gravestones within the Fearn Peninsula area.