Welcome to Tain

The royal burgh of Tain is located on the Tain Peninsula, on the north-east coast of Scotland and on the south shore of the Dornoch Firth at the mouth of the River Tain, in the county of Ross-shire, approximately 596 miles north of London and 12 miles north-east of Invergordon.

The town has a population of around 4,500. Administratively it is within the unitary council region of Highland, the largest in Scotland, which covers an area of approximately 25,660 sq kms.

Set amidst beautiful scenery, and standing on a gentle slope overlooking an expansive sandy beach, the largest settlement on the Tain Peninsula is a quiet and attractive place of sandstone buildings, and a hub for the fertile farming region which stretches from Edderton in the west, to Portmahomack in the east, and Nigg in the south. It enjoys good transport links, with the Dornoch Firth Bridge providing easy access to Inverness and towns in Sutherland, and the ancient ferry crossing from Cromarty to Nigg still operates. Renowned as the home of the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is Scotland's oldest royal burgh and has some notable historic buildings, including the castellated 18th century Tolbooth on High Street, and the ruins of the 13th century St Duthus Chapel. There is much to attract visitors with safe beaches, golf, fishing, bird watching, woods, hills, and speciality shops, and it is an ideal base for touring the Highlands.

Scotland's oldest royal burgh, Tain was granted a royal charter by King Malcolm III. This charter confirmed the town a sanctuary, where people could claim protection of the church, and and "immunity", where resident merchants and traders were exempt from certain taxes.

Historically the town's economy was based upon agriculture, but today the service industry, including tourism, is the largest sector of the local economy, employing around 65% of all workers.

The origin of the name Tain is uncertain. It may come from the Norse "Thing", a place of assembly, or from an older root meaning water or river. However, the town's Gaelic is quite clear, Baile Dubhthaich, Duthac's town, and it is to Duthac that the town owed its early importance. He was an early Christian figure, perhaps 8th or 9th century, whose shrine had become so important by 1066 that it resulted in a royal charter. Duthac became an official saint in 1419 and by the late middle ages his shrine was established as one of the most important places of pilgrimage in Scotland. The most famous pilgrim was King James IV, who came at least once a year throughout his reign to achieve both spiritual and political aims.