Avoch

Avoch - pronounced A’ach - is a small village on the south side of the Black Isle, and its shores are washed by the waters of the Beauly Firth..  The name Avoch is said to mean shallow waters - as the bay is very shallow. The tide recedes and flows further than in any other part of this side of the Moray Firth

17th and 18th centuries

At the end of the 17th century, statistical accounts indicate only one fishing boat in Avoch, and the crew did not live in the village itself. But early in the 18th century, there were 1380 folk living in the parish - with around 26 shoemakers, 14 tailors, 5 innkeepers, 1 piper and 1 fiddler in the village, and around 93 fishing families..

Education

Avoch and the neighbouring communities were well endowed with educational resources - committed and well-respected individuals who furthered the interests of the young people of the community

Manufacturing

The men and women of the Seatown area of the village manufactured all their own fishing apparatus, and a great quanitity of herring and salmon nets for use by other fishing folk in the North and West Highlands

The village has since lost its factory and mills and the modern fishing fleet is mainly based on the West Coast, with a complement of sixteen boats employing 60 fishermen, fishing for white fish, prawns and clams

Herring fishing

At that time, the fishermen travelled around a great deal, fishing in the firth in autumn, then down to Northum berland and to Ullapool in July

Sir Alexander Mackenzie

One of Avoch’s famous people - the intrepid voyager who travelled and discovered much in Canada, before coming to live in Avoch. See our article about him.

The Fletchers (Jacks) - James and James Douglas - who inherited the Roesehaugh estates, and between them developed the Rosehaugh House to the magnificent building it became