Dingwall

United_Kingdom

Dingwall is a small town in Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands; once a harbour, it now lies inland. The name "Dingwall" derives from Scandinavian Þingvöllr, a meeting-place.

Dingwall, evening mist

  • Castles, sort of. Nothing now remains of Dingwall Castle. Tulloch Castle probably dates to the 12th C but the present structure, now a hotel (see "Sleep"), is from the 16th C. Any pair of castles within sight of each other usually have a mythical "secret tunnel" that supposedly connected them; but here for once it's true, and you can peer into the collapsed passageway. The nearby ruin of "Caisteal Gorach" is a late 18th C folly, recycling the masonry of both.
  • Hector MacDonald Memorial Tower, Mitchell Hill Cemetery. Monument to the 19th-century major general, known as 'Fighting Mac'. He was born a few miles from Dingwall, and fought in the Boer War, Afghan War and Sudan Campaign.
  • Dingwall Museum, Town House, High Street, IV15 9RY, +44 1349 865366. mid-May-Sept daily 10:00-16:30. Local artefacts and exhibitions. Free.

Castles, sort of. Nothing now remains of Dingwall Castle. Tulloch Castle probably dates to the 12th C but the present structure, now a hotel (see "Sleep"), is from the 16th C. Any pair of castles within sight of each other usually have a mythical "secret tunnel" that supposedly connected them; but here for once it's true, and you can peer into the collapsed passageway. The nearby ruin of "Caisteal Gorach" is a late 18th C folly, recycling the masonry of both.

Hector MacDonald Memorial Tower, Mitchell Hill Cemetery. Monument to the 19th-century major general, known as 'Fighting Mac'. He was born a few miles from Dingwall, and fought in the Boer War, Afghan War and Sudan Campaign.

Dingwall Museum, Town House, High Street, IV15 9RY, +44 1349 865366. mid-May-Sept daily 10:00-16:30. Local artefacts and exhibitions. Free.

  • Tollie Red Kites, Brahan, by Maryburgh (Off the A835 after the Maryburgh Roundabout. About 7km from Dingwall., +44 1463 715000. 9AM-5PM. Visitor centre to watch for red kites, who are fed every day. A variety of other birds can also be spotted. Free.
  • Walk Britain's shortest canal, the one-mile stretch of the disused Dingwall canal. It passes a firing range so don't walk there if red flags are flying.
  • Watch football ie soccer at Ross County FC. They were promoted in 2019 and now play in the Premiership, the top tier of Scottish football. Their home ground is Victoria Park just east of the railway station.
  • Visit a whisky distillery at Muir of Ord, 5 miles south. Tours daily 10:00-16:00, £8.
  • Highland Games & Agricultural Show: the Black Isle Show is held in July / Aug at Muir of Ord. The next event is Wed 31 July - Thurs 1 Aug 2019.

Tollie Red Kites, Brahan, by Maryburgh (Off the A835 after the Maryburgh Roundabout. About 7km from Dingwall., +44 1463 715000. 9AM-5PM. Visitor centre to watch for red kites, who are fed every day. A variety of other birds can also be spotted. Free.

Walk Britain's shortest canal, the one-mile stretch of the disused Dingwall canal. It passes a firing range so don't walk there if red flags are flying.

Watch football ie soccer at Ross County FC. They were promoted in 2019 and now play in the Premiership, the top tier of Scottish football. Their home ground is Victoria Park just east of the railway station.

Visit a whisky distillery at Muir of Ord, 5 miles south. Tours daily 10:00-16:00, £8.

Highland Games & Agricultural Show: the Black Isle Show is held in July / Aug at Muir of Ord. The next event is Wed 31 July - Thurs 1 Aug 2019.

There's a Tesco and a Lidl in town centre.

  • Batty's Bap's, 35-36 High St, +44 7938 142508. M-F 06:30-15:00, Sa 08:30-15:00, Su 09:00-14:00. This is a sandwich shop.
  • Other town centre offerings are Victoria Restaurant (closed Mon), Ding's Chinese (closed Mon), Renato's fish & chips (closed Mon), two Indians (open daily) and a Thai (closed Mon).

Batty's Bap's, 35-36 High St, +44 7938 142508. M-F 06:30-15:00, Sa 08:30-15:00, Su 09:00-14:00. This is a sandwich shop.

  • The Mallard is next to the railway station. It's open Su-Th 10:00-01:00, F Sa to 03:00.

The Mallard is next to the railway station. It's open Su-Th 10:00-01:00, F Sa to 03:00.