Located between the River Ness and the Caledonian Canal on the shores of Beauly Firth, the Merkinch Local Nature Reserve is the only one of its kind in the Highlands. It is a hidden gem full of woods, open grasslands and tidal pools. The reserve, though bound by an industrial estate and Merkinch’s main housing area, is populated by roe deer, small mammals and water birds. If you’re lucky, you may even see otters and dolphins playing in the firth. The Old Ferry Ticket Office, from which locals once bought passage to the Black Isle, now serves as the visitor’s centre. The reserve is small and often hard to find, but it’s a lovely spot for enjoying the scenery.
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