Overview

This was my second visit to the Cromarty Reeds Loop path. Cromarty is a thriving cultural community and it had a few contrasting qualities; the natural beauty, old graveyard, beautiful old streets all contrasted with the individual shops, tiny community cinema and the resting oilrigs along the shoreline. Cromarty was also home to the 19th Century geologist, writer, stonemason and social justice campaigner Hugh Miller. There is a Hugh Miller Birthplace Cottage and Museum in Church St which I understand might be partially wheelchair accessible but I can’t comment on that as it’s always been closed when I’ve visited.

Transport & Parking

We had to drive there but there is also a bus service from Inverness to Cromarty. Parking in Cromarty is mostly on-street as far as we could see; we parked in the ferry car-park but I’m not sure if you’d be able to do this when the ferry’s running. There is also a disabled parking space outside the Hugh Miller Institute (the library) in Church St.

Access

The village of Cromarty itself is a delight and accessible to wheel around although the streets are older and the pavements reflect this in parts, but the road is quiet enough to wheel on the road when necessary. Reeds Loop Path has been re-surfaced and it's fairly easy to get around in a powerchair or a mobility scooter. The only part that's possibly a bit precarious is the initial part of the path where there is a drop to the shore and it's a bit sloped but I managed okay in my powerchair. As it's a loop path, you could enter from the other end of the loop then turn back again when you came to this part of the walk if it's going to be a problem for you. There are also two benches along the way for you to stop and take in the views. The brooding clouds made for an atmospheric visit and I really loved being able to wheel along the shoreline and being able to get so close to the sea.

Toilets

There was an accessible public toilet, it wasn't that easy to find and the two locals we asked didn't know if there were any at all. I found one toilet next to the public toilets which was only accessible with a universal access key, I'm not sure if that's the same as a Radar key but I didn't have that with me so I couldn't comment on the access. I am glad that it was locked though.

Staff

N/A

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Due to the high Covid rate in Highland, I didn't use any facilities or go inside any pubs or shops so I can't comment on their individual accessibility but hopefully when things improve and it's safer, I'll be able to test that out too. It was also a quiet Sunday afternoon when I visited so there weren't many people around. I'd really recommend Reeds Loop path; it was great to take in the atmospheric views of Cromarty and the Souters. There are reallyinteresting info signs at various points on the walk telling you about the history, culture and wildlife of the area and when I visited, there were gorgeous primroses, marigolds, celandine, wood anenomes, mystical trees and a mystical well to check out along the way.

Photos