County Dossier
Nairnshire
A small Highland shire of fishing and farming folk.
Nairnshire is a maritime county on the Moray Firth. The county features a flattish coastal region, home to the town of Nairn—a popular seaside resort—and a few small villages.
At a glance
Nairnshire at a glance
A small Highland shire of fishing and farming folk.
- Northern coastal county
- Sheriffdom by 12th century
- Nairn became county town
- Area: 200 sq miles / 518 sq km
- Population: 13,894
- County Top: Carn Glas-choire (2,162ft / 659m)
County Geography
Nairnshire meets Inverness-shire and Morayshire. Its boundaries are shaped by the Moray Firth to the north, the inland watershed and moorland rise to the south, and the Findhorn-side and Nairn-side country across the county’s eastern and western lines.
The sea frontage, the low coastal belt, and the steady rise into inland moorland give Nairnshire a strong county form. That pattern explains its small ports, villages, woods, and upland edge.
Map Reference
View Nairnshire on the map
Nairnshire is the county. The map also shows lieutenancies and council areas that use the county name.
The county.
The lieutenancy.
Council areas.
Places and routes
Nairn, Auldearn, Cawdor, Croy, and Ferness show the county from seaside burgh and inland village to castle place, upland settlement, and southern interior. Together they show Nairnshire through its central places and compact geography.
Connections
Nairnshire’s movement runs from the Moray Firth inland through the Nairn valley and toward the southern moorland line. Those routes tie coast, village, and upland into one compact county pattern.
Names
- Nairnshire
- County of Nairn
- Siorrachd Inbhir Narann
Siorrachd Inbhir Narann is the Gaelic form of Nairnshire. Nairnshire is the settled county name, while County of Nairn is the formal historical style.
The county was established as a sheriffdom by the twelfth century, and records preserve forms such as Nairnscyre. The firth shore, Nairn valley, and inland hill country still form a recognisable county.