Fortrose is a town and former royal burgh in Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is on the Moray Firth, about north-east of Inverness. The town is known for its ruined 13th century cathedral, and as the home of the Brahan Seer. In the Middle Ages it was the seat of the bishopric of Ross, and formerly called Chanonry, for being the Chanory of Ross. The cathedral was largely demolished in the mid-seventeenth century by Oliver Cromwell to provide building materials for a citadel at Inverness. The vaulted south aisle, with bell-tower, and a detached chapter house remain. These fragments, though modest in scale, display considerable architectural refinement, and are in the care ofHistoric Scotland. The burgh is a popular location for trying to spot bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth. Fortrose shares a golf course with Rosemarkie. Set on the Chanonry Ness the course stretches out into the Moray Firth and offers good views of Fort George. The course is well known for its signature 4th Hole "Lighthouse". The lighthouse in question is the Chanonry Point lighthouse which was designed by Alan Stevenson and was first lit 15 May 1846. Public buildings in Fortrose include a leisure centre, library and the only secondary school on the Black Isle, Fortrose Academy. The correct pronunciation of the town's name in accordance with local usage is with the stress on the first syllable.
Etymology
The name Fortrose may conserve the ethonym Fortriu.
Fortrose Academy is the only secondary school on the Black Isle. There are around 640 pupils enrolled. Notable former teachers include Mr A. Tait, who won the Teacher of the Year Award in Scotland, 2006. The rector of the school is Gavin Maclean.
Fortrose Library
Built into the school is Fortrose library, which is part of the Highland Libraries group. The library is regularly used by pupils in Fortrose Academy, for which the younger years take out books to participate in the "power readers" scheme, which involves pupils getting rewards for reading a certain number of books, and passing on to the next level. Due to the library's small size, the stock is always changing.
Situated next to the school is the Black Isle Leisure Centre. It consists of a gym, and one single indoor court which has space for four badminton courts, four small basketball courts or one full sized basketball court. It also has goals at either end for football. Pupils of Fortrose Academy regularly have PE lessons in the Leisure Centre.
Transport
The A832 runs through the town. There is a bus service from Inverness that runs half-hourly weekdays. The buses continue hourly to Cromarty. There was a railway station at Fortrose, which closed in 1951. The line it was situated on closed in 1960.
