Known as the ‘Port’ by locals, Portmahomack is a pretty seaside fishing village and harbour that stands in a small sheltered bay on the north coast of the Tarbat Peninsula, which separates the Moray Firth from the Dornoch Firth in the Highland Region of Scotland. Located only 15 kilometres from the historic town of Tain and 50 kilometres from Inverness, the village was, during the early 19th century, a busy fishing village supporting a fishing fleet of 100 vessels that supplied a busy fish curing industry. Today however things have changed and only a few fishing boats remain with the waters being used mainly by pleasure craft. The village has become a quiet, pleasant tourist destination of only approximately 500 residents, attracting visitors who wish to enjoy the broad sandy bay and coastal waters to swim or get their feet wet, go fishing or take a trip to see the Dolphins. Although the village is only small it services the community with a golf course, pubs, restaurants, shop and Post Office. Only 5 kilometres from the village on the north-west tip of Tarbat Ness Peninsula stands the fourth tallest lighthouse in the U.K., and was built in 1830.
The village is home to the Tarbat Discovery Centre which is located in the former Parish Church. This museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Tarbat Peninsula, particularly the Pictish period, evidence of which was discovered in the early 1990 by excavation of a nearby site. The Pictish settlement that was discovered had some dedicated workshops involved in glass making, metal work, woodworking and vellum manufacturing (parchment), besides its farming community. During the excavation several beautiful pieces of sculpture were unearthed which are now on display in the Discovery Centre.
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