Nigg Bay facts for kids
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Nigg Bay (which is Camas Neig in Scottish Gaelic) is a big, shallow bay. You can find it on the northeast coast of the Cromarty Firth in Scotland. It's about 5 miles (8 km) east of Invergordon, in the Highland area.
This bay has sandy areas, muddy flats, and grassy wetlands. When the tide is low, you can see the wide Sands of Nigg. The bay starts near Balintraid pier. This pier is probably the oldest one on the Cromarty Firth. It was built by Thomas Telford in 1821. There was also a wartime base for mines and old coastal guns near the pier.
Nigg Bay Nature Reserve
Nigg Bay is a large area of mudflats, saltmarsh, and wet grasslands. It's a special place for birds. Many different kinds of birds come here to feed and rest.
If you visit between October and March, you will see lots of wading birds and wildfowl. These include birds like bar-tailed godwits, knots, and wigeon. You might also spot thousands of pink-footed geese. They move with the tides, flying in and out of the bay.
The best time to see the birds is about two hours before or after high tide. This is when the water pushes the birds closer to the special viewing hide. The hide is a great place to watch them without disturbing them.
In the summer, many birds come to the wetlands and saltmarsh to nest and raise their young. The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) is also creating new wet grassland areas. This helps to attract birds like lapwings and redshanks to breed here. Up to 10,000 pink-footed geese stop here on their journey back to their breeding grounds. Lapwings and oystercatchers also get ready for their breeding season in the spring.
The reserve has a hide that is easy to use for wheelchairs and pushchairs. This makes it a great place for everyone to enjoy nature.
Villages Around the Bay
Several villages are located around Nigg Bay. On the southeast side, you'll find the village of Nigg. It got its name from the bay itself. Further along the coast is the village of Pitcalnie.
On the northwest side of the bay, there are more villages. These include Milton to the east, Barbaraville (which is almost directly across from the big fabrication yard), and Balintraid further west.
A special ferry connects the village of Cromarty on the Black Isle to Nigg Ferry. This ferry crosses the water just before the bay opens into the Moray Firth.
Nigg Energy Park
At the southeast corner of Nigg Bay, there is a large industrial site. This used to be a place where parts for oil platforms were built. It opened in 1972. For a while, it wasn't used much, but things changed in 2012.
The Global Energy Group took over the yard and renamed it Nigg Energy Park. With help from the Scottish Government, the park has become busy again. It now works on projects for renewable energy, like wind turbines. It also helps to fix up oil drilling rigs.
In 2012, the Global Energy Group started a special skills academy. This academy helps local people and young people learn new skills. This has created many new jobs in the area. It has also helped to reduce unemployment and boost the local economy. The extra work at Nigg has also led to more activity at the docks in Invergordon.
There is also an oil depot run by Talisman Energy. This is where crude oil is stored and processed. The oil comes from the Beatrice oil field in the Moray Firth through pipes.
Balintraid Pier
Balintraid Pier is likely the oldest pier on the Cromarty Firth. It was built by Thomas Telford in 1821. The pier was made to help bring in important goods like lime and coal. It also helped to send out local products like corn and timber. Building the pier cost about £2,400.
The pier is still standing today. However, as of May 2018, it is in poor condition. Parts of it are starting to collapse. Because of its condition, it has been listed as a "Building at Risk" by "Buildings at Risk Scotland."
