Location

Gordons Mill is located on the Black Isle just to the west of Udale Bay, south of Balblair on the north side of the peninsula.
Invergordon is a couple of kilometres to the north across the firth and Cromarty is some 10 kilometres to the east.
The "clachan" of Gordons Mill is located at the end of a track off the main road (B9163) from Balblair to Newhall Bridge. The track cuts south east towards the largest building which is the mill, converted to domestic use in 2 tranches - the mill in 1992 and the kiln in 1997.

The other buildings consist of a renovated cottage and outbuildings, two modern dwellings built in 2004 and the road leads ultimately to a gate to a field and dyke system bordering Udale Bay reserve, owned and managed by the RSPB. A neighbour guides bird watching tours and compiled this list of birds in the immediate area of the mill.
 

History

The Mill is known to have existed from 1796 (date on skewput) and various secular constructions have been uncovered locally. The ruinous Kirkmichael (kirk) is about 1 kilometre to the north and the local area is scattered with iron and bronze age remains. Pictish

influences abound on the surrounding coastline and seaboard communities. Norse influence can be seen from the name of the nearest bay - Udale (odal -old norse for freehold) and in the name of the county town; Dingwall.

The mill has been used for different purposes during its 210 years:- corn, barley, saw mill, wool carding mill and possibly even snuff!

Geography

The area round the Mill is low lying and sand / clay bedding relevant to a normal estuarine area. The height is 4.5 metres above Chart Datum.
The map below, shows the immediate area around Gordons Mill. It is interesting to note that the map, from 1813, shows several houses, or feus, to the west and east of the mill which is in the centre of the row. The mill dam and lade shown is now filled in apart from at the mills east gable and mill tail race sections. The mill race leads back to the Newhall burn to the east.

The satellite image below shows Udale Bay and the Cromarty Firth.

Click here for a satellite image of the mill and surrounding area.