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Mercat Cross

📷 Richard Dorrell · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

BirdsWildlifeFungi

Dogs welcome

Getting here

57.58099, -4.13224

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦105+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Herring Gull and Robin
🍄Mushroom foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦105+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Herring Gull and Robin
🍄Mushroom foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

Bike parkingParking· FreeToilets

Best for

8 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Herring Gull, Robin, House Sparrow +102 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Herring Gull, Robin, House Sparrow +102 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Mushroom foraging

Strong match

Fungi — Parrot Waxcap, Snowy Waxcap, Scarlet Waxcap +74 more · last seen 2025; Fungi — Parrot Waxcap, Snowy Waxcap, Scarlet Waxcap +74 more · last seen 2025

Varies

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Eristalis pertinax, Austrolimnophila ochracea, Red-legged Shieldbug +63 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Eristalis pertinax, Austrolimnophila ochracea, Red-legged Shieldbug +63 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Himalayan Balsam, Salmonberry +23 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Himalayan Balsam, Salmonberry +23 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚴

Cycling

9 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United Kingdom 8Cycling route

Named routeRef EV12International cycle route

NCN 1 Cromarty alternativeCycling route

Named routeNational Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route524 m

Named routeRef 1Length 524 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route3.9 km

Named routeRef 1Length 3.9 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route268 m

Named routeRef 1Length 268 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route945 m

Named routeRef 1Length 945 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Learnie Red Rock TrailsMountain bike route

Named route

Wildlife to spot

17,042 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

17,042 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds61 species

summer

2025

Common Guillemot · Herring Gull · Razorbill · Cormorant · Robin +56

Common GuillemotUria aalge
Herring GullLarus argentatus
RazorbillAlca torda
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
RobinErithacus rubecula
House SparrowPasser domesticus
ShagGulosus aristotelis
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
GannetMorus bassanus
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
JackdawColoeus monedula
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
SwiftApus apus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
Common GullLarus canus
TurnstoneArenaria interpres
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
Black GuillemotCepphus grylle
RookCorvus frugilegus
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
SwallowHirundo rustica
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
SiskinSpinus spinus
GreenfinchChloris chloris
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fusca
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
Leach's PetrelHydrobates leucorhous
MagpiePica pica
EiderSomateria mollissima
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
RavenCorvus corax
WigeonMareca penelope
GoosanderMergus merganser
RedshankTringa totanus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
CurlewNumenius arquata
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
DunnockPrunella modularis
Rock DoveColumba livia
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
BlackbirdTurdus merula
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
House MartinDelichon urbicum
Common TernSterna hirundo

🦌

Mammals2 species

summerautumn

2025

Red Squirrel · Bottle-nosed Dolphin

Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Bottle-nosed DolphinTursiops truncatus

🦎

Reptiles1 species

summer

2025

Common Lizard

Common LizardZootoca vivipara

🐸

Amphibians1 species

autumn

2025

Common Toad

Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects7 species

summer

2025

Eristalis pertinax · Red-legged Shieldbug · Eristalis tenax · Cheilosia illustrata · Xylota segnis +2

Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax
Cheilosia illustrataCheilosia illustrata
Xylota segnisXylota segnis
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus
SyrphusSyrphus

🍄

Fungi27 species

autumn

2025

Parrot Waxcap · Snowy Waxcap · Deceptive Earthtongue · Crab Brittlegill · Upright Coral +22

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus
Snowy WaxcapCuphophyllus virgineus var. virgineus
Deceptive EarthtongueGeoglossum fallax
Crab BrittlegillRussula xerampelina
Upright CoralRamaria stricta
Cedarwood WaxcapCuphophyllus russocoriaceus
Sordid BlewitsLepista sordida
Earthy PowdercapCystoderma amianthinum
Star PinkgillEntoloma conferendum var. conferendum
Dusky PuffballLycoperdon nigrescens
Honey WaxcapHygrocybe reidii
Butter WaxcapHygrocybe ceracea
Golden WaxcapHygrocybe chlorophana
Wood BlewitsLepista nuda
Scarlet WaxcapHygrocybe coccinea
Lilac BonnetMycena pura
Meadow WaxcapCuphophyllus pratensis var. pratensis
Girdled DapperlingLepiota boudieri
Ashen ShieldPluteus cinereofuscus
Meadow CoralClavulinopsis corniculata
Clouded FunnelClitocybe nebularis
Cortinarius impolitusCortinarius impolitus
Coconut MilkcapLactarius glyciosmus
Tufted Wood MushroomAgaricus impudicus
Ramularia lamii var. lamiiRamularia lamii var. lamii
Brassica Powdery MildewErysiphe cruciferarum
Slimy WaxcapGliophorus irrigatus

🌿

Plants22 species

summer

2025

Himalayan Balsam · Ivy · Foxglove · Wych Elm · Sea Rocket +17

Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera
IvyHedera helix
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
Wych ElmUlmus glabra
Sea RocketCakile maritima
Dryopteris filix-masDryopteris filix-mas
Purple ToadflaxLinaria purpurea
Ivy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralis
Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidii
TimothyPhleum pratense
Wall-rueAsplenium ruta-muraria
Fox-and-cubsPilosella aurantiaca
FuchsiaFuchsia magellanica
Hedera helixHedera helix
Red ValerianCentranthus ruber
Taraxacum agg.Taraxacum agg.
Himalayan HoneysuckleLeycesteria formosa
Chinese BrambleRubus tricolor
SanicleSanicula europaea
Sweet CicelyMyrrhis odorata
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula
Norway MapleAcer platanoides

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

17,042 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds61 species

summer

2025

Common Guillemot · Herring Gull · Razorbill · Cormorant · Robin +56

Common GuillemotUria aalge
Herring GullLarus argentatus
RazorbillAlca torda
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
RobinErithacus rubecula
House SparrowPasser domesticus
ShagGulosus aristotelis
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
GannetMorus bassanus
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
JackdawColoeus monedula
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
SwiftApus apus
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
Common GullLarus canus
TurnstoneArenaria interpres
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
Black GuillemotCepphus grylle
RookCorvus frugilegus
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
SwallowHirundo rustica
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
SiskinSpinus spinus
GreenfinchChloris chloris
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
Red-throated DiverGavia stellata
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fusca
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
Leach's PetrelHydrobates leucorhous
MagpiePica pica
EiderSomateria mollissima
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
RavenCorvus corax
WigeonMareca penelope
GoosanderMergus merganser
RedshankTringa totanus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
CurlewNumenius arquata
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
DunnockPrunella modularis
Rock DoveColumba livia
Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
BlackbirdTurdus merula
KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
House MartinDelichon urbicum
Common TernSterna hirundo

🦌

Mammals2 species

summerautumn

2025

Red Squirrel · Bottle-nosed Dolphin

Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
Bottle-nosed DolphinTursiops truncatus

🦎

Reptiles1 species

summer

2025

Common Lizard

Common LizardZootoca vivipara

🐸

Amphibians1 species

autumn

2025

Common Toad

Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects7 species

summer

2025

Eristalis pertinax · Red-legged Shieldbug · Eristalis tenax · Cheilosia illustrata · Xylota segnis +2

Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax
Cheilosia illustrataCheilosia illustrata
Xylota segnisXylota segnis
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus
SyrphusSyrphus

🍄

Fungi27 species

autumn

2025

Parrot Waxcap · Snowy Waxcap · Deceptive Earthtongue · Crab Brittlegill · Upright Coral +22

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus
Snowy WaxcapCuphophyllus virgineus var. virgineus
Deceptive EarthtongueGeoglossum fallax
Crab BrittlegillRussula xerampelina
Upright CoralRamaria stricta
Cedarwood WaxcapCuphophyllus russocoriaceus
Sordid BlewitsLepista sordida
Earthy PowdercapCystoderma amianthinum
Star PinkgillEntoloma conferendum var. conferendum
Dusky PuffballLycoperdon nigrescens
Honey WaxcapHygrocybe reidii
Butter WaxcapHygrocybe ceracea
Golden WaxcapHygrocybe chlorophana
Wood BlewitsLepista nuda
Scarlet WaxcapHygrocybe coccinea
Lilac BonnetMycena pura
Meadow WaxcapCuphophyllus pratensis var. pratensis
Girdled DapperlingLepiota boudieri
Ashen ShieldPluteus cinereofuscus
Meadow CoralClavulinopsis corniculata
Clouded FunnelClitocybe nebularis
Cortinarius impolitusCortinarius impolitus
Coconut MilkcapLactarius glyciosmus
Tufted Wood MushroomAgaricus impudicus
Ramularia lamii var. lamiiRamularia lamii var. lamii
Brassica Powdery MildewErysiphe cruciferarum
Slimy WaxcapGliophorus irrigatus

🌿

Plants22 species

summer

2025

Himalayan Balsam · Ivy · Foxglove · Wych Elm · Sea Rocket +17

Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera
IvyHedera helix
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
Wych ElmUlmus glabra
Sea RocketCakile maritima
Dryopteris filix-masDryopteris filix-mas
Purple ToadflaxLinaria purpurea
Ivy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralis
Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidii
TimothyPhleum pratense
Wall-rueAsplenium ruta-muraria
Fox-and-cubsPilosella aurantiaca
FuchsiaFuchsia magellanica
Hedera helixHedera helix
Red ValerianCentranthus ruber
Taraxacum agg.Taraxacum agg.
Himalayan HoneysuckleLeycesteria formosa
Chinese BrambleRubus tricolor
SanicleSanicula europaea
Sweet CicelyMyrrhis odorata
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula
Norway MapleAcer platanoides

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Richard Dorrell · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Remains of Fortrose Mercat Cross

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Rosemarkie park fieldUrban park1.3 km→🌱The OrchardUrban park1.1 km→✦Fort GeorgeHistoric site3.7 km→✦Fortrose CathedralHistoric site100 m→⛪Avoch Parish ChurchReligious grounds2.8 km→⛳Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf ClubGolf course1.7 km→

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