Moray Firth, Highland
The Moray Firth is a roughly triangular inlet (or firth) of the North Sea located to the north and east of Inverness. It is the largest firth in Scotland, stretching from Duncansby Head (near John o' Groats) in the north and Fraserburgh in the east to Inverness and the Beauly Firth in the west. The Moray Firth has more than 500 miles of coastline.
A number of rivers flow into the Moray Firth, including the River Ness, the River Findhorn and the River Spey. Various smaller firths and bays are inlets of the firth, including the Cromarty Firth and the Dornoch Firth. The Pentland Firth has its eastern mouth at the Moray Firth's northern boundary.
The Moray Firth is one of the most important places on the UK coast for observing dolphins and whales. The most common species are the Bottlenose Dolphin and the Harbour Porpoise with occasional sightings of Common Dolphin and Minke Whale. The popular wildlife viewing area located at Chanonry Point host some spectacular displays of Bottlenose Dolphins within the inner Moray Firth. There are also visitor centres at Spey Bay and North Kessock run by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.
The inner Moray Firth is designated as a Special Protection Area for wildlife conservation purposes. The Moray Firth contains a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) designated under the EU Habitats Directive which is one of the largest Marine Protection Areas in Europe. The SAC protects the inner waters of the Moray Firth from a line between Lossiemouth (on the south coast) and Helmsdale (on the north coast) westwards.
The Moray Firth is also an important oil field and fishing ground. The Beatrice oil field in the outer Moray Firth is the closest of the North Sea oil fields. Much of the fishing industry focuses on scallops and Norway lobsters.
Date: 23rd September 2015
Location: view from Chanonry Point looking east towards the Kessock Bridge and Inverness
A number of rivers flow into the Moray Firth, including the River Ness, the River Findhorn and the River Spey. Various smaller firths and bays are inlets of the firth, including the Cromarty Firth and the Dornoch Firth. The Pentland Firth has its eastern mouth at the Moray Firth's northern boundary.
The Moray Firth is one of the most important places on the UK coast for observing dolphins and whales. The most common species are the Bottlenose Dolphin and the Harbour Porpoise with occasional sightings of Common Dolphin and Minke Whale. The popular wildlife viewing area located at Chanonry Point host some spectacular displays of Bottlenose Dolphins within the inner Moray Firth. There are also visitor centres at Spey Bay and North Kessock run by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.
The inner Moray Firth is designated as a Special Protection Area for wildlife conservation purposes. The Moray Firth contains a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) designated under the EU Habitats Directive which is one of the largest Marine Protection Areas in Europe. The SAC protects the inner waters of the Moray Firth from a line between Lossiemouth (on the south coast) and Helmsdale (on the north coast) westwards.
The Moray Firth is also an important oil field and fishing ground. The Beatrice oil field in the outer Moray Firth is the closest of the North Sea oil fields. Much of the fishing industry focuses on scallops and Norway lobsters.
Date: 23rd September 2015
Location: view from Chanonry Point looking east towards the Kessock Bridge and Inverness
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Also in: Sea and sand
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