Nairn
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  Nairn Location within theHighland council area | |
| Population | 10,190 (2020)[1] |
| OS grid reference | NH887563 |
| • Edinburgh | 116 mi (187 km) |
| • London | 446 mi (718 km) |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NAIRN |
| Postcode district | IV12 |
| Dialling code | 01667 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
| 57°35′10″N3°52′08″W / 57.586°N 3.869°W /57.586; -3.869 | |
Nairn (/ˈnɛərn/;Scottish Gaelic:Inbhir Narann) is a town and formerroyal burgh in theHighland Councilarea ofScotland. It is an ancientfishing port andmarket town around 17 miles (27 km) east ofInverness, at the point where theRiver Nairn enters theMoray Firth. It is the traditionalcounty town ofNairnshire.
At the2022 census, Nairn had a population of 9,394, making it the third-largest settlement in the Highland Council area, behind Inverness andFort William. Nairn is best known as aseaside resort, with twogolf courses, beaches, a community centre and arts venue,[2] a small theatre (The Little Theatre[3]) and a smallmuseum, providing information on the local area and incorporating the collection of the former Fishertown museum.
TheHistory of Nairn is a broad and diverse topic spanning itsPalaeolithic andMesolithic roots before recorded history, to thePicts and the visitation of Roman generalAgricola, its possible founding under the name Ekkailsbakki bySigurd, Earl of Orkney, its royal burgh status underDavid I, its strong links to monarchs and regents of Scotland and its strategic position in multiple wars and famine.
Formerly part of the Supercontinent of Rodinia as evidenced by the discovery of Dalradian Supergroup rocks, Nairn encompasses a2+5⁄8-by-1+1⁄2-mile (4-by-2.5-kilometre) position on the mouth of the River Nairn and is fronted by theNorth Sea at the Moray Firth with two extensive beaches, the east beach being predominantly sand with dune vegetation (such as marram grass) and the west having more rock though becoming more sand as it reaches the river mouth. The Culbin Sands forms part of one of the most extensive areas of stabilised blown sand in Britain. The soil by the coast is largely a thin and loose organic layer developing directly on the sand and this has been strengthened in areas such as Culbin for forestry.[4]
The town itself is predominantly flat rising from sea level to 40 feet (12 metres) in Fishertown and the majority of the town sitting at 65 feet (20 metres) above sea level. Sections of Nairn do reach as high as 95 feet (29 metres) near Balblair.[5] The low ground near the coast is fertile and the soil rich free loam over sand or gravel. In the town thin, rather acidic soils are present throughout. Thealluvial plain has shownPermo-Triassic sandstones, thick accumulations ofJurassic sandstones and dark shales, and erosion by ice sheets. Excavation can reveal dark, muddyglacial deposits, with occasional fossils and shells.
As the land rises south we see Conifer forests and on the higher slopes we see heather moorland and montane vegetation. The wider Nairnshire and Moray area is 28% woodland, one of the most-wooded areas in Britain.[4]
The Bar at Culbin appears to be migrating westwards at about 1.5 km per century, leaving a broad salt marsh in its lee. The soft coast also includes the flat, sweeping, wide and gently undulating Culbin Sands dune system, which culminates in the Lady Culbin dune (over 30m high), the largest in Britain.
— Turnbull Jeffrey Partnership, "NatureScot Review 101 – Moray and Nairn landscape character assessment"
Nairn is predominantly surrounded gently rolling mounds and hills of mixed-used agricultural and forestry usage upon a glacial landscape. The surrounding areas reach a height of 620 feet (189 metres) at the Hill of Urchany3+3⁄4 miles (6 kilometres) south of the town. The land remains fertile and primarily consists of granite below.[5] The hydrology of the surrounding area directs water to drain northwards into the River Nairn, leaving it prone to flooding. As such the embankments are strengthened in inhabited areas.[4]
| Nairn 1991–2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Scotland 1991–2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Climate data for Nairn (1991–2020 averages, extremes 1931–2014) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.0 (59.0) | 16.7 (62.1) | 21.5 (70.7) | 23.4 (74.1) | 27.8 (82.0) | 29.4 (84.9) | 29.2 (84.6) | 30.6 (87.1) | 26.8 (80.2) | 24.4 (75.9) | 20.0 (68.0) | 16.1 (61.0) | 30.6 (87.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.9 (44.4) | 7.6 (45.7) | 9.4 (48.9) | 11.9 (53.4) | 14.5 (58.1) | 16.7 (62.1) | 18.9 (66.0) | 18.6 (65.5) | 16.3 (61.3) | 13.0 (55.4) | 9.5 (49.1) | 7.2 (45.0) | 12.5 (54.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.0 (33.8) | 0.9 (33.6) | 2.2 (36.0) | 3.7 (38.7) | 5.9 (42.6) | 8.9 (48.0) | 10.8 (51.4) | 10.6 (51.1) | 8.7 (47.7) | 5.8 (42.4) | 2.9 (37.2) | 0.9 (33.6) | 5.2 (41.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −15.3 (4.5) | −16.7 (1.9) | −12.2 (10.0) | −8.0 (17.6) | −3.4 (25.9) | −2.2 (28.0) | 2.0 (35.6) | −0.6 (30.9) | −1.9 (28.6) | −5.6 (21.9) | −12.8 (9.0) | −15.1 (4.8) | −16.7 (1.9) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 52.1 (2.05) | 45.5 (1.79) | 41.6 (1.64) | 41.8 (1.65) | 49.7 (1.96) | 59.1 (2.33) | 60.0 (2.36) | 65.9 (2.59) | 60.7 (2.39) | 68.9 (2.71) | 56.4 (2.22) | 61.3 (2.41) | 663 (26.1) |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 51.4 | 76.6 | 111.2 | 146.1 | 190.8 | 151.3 | 150.0 | 147.4 | 118.4 | 87.6 | 59.0 | 37.0 | 1,326.8 |
| Source 1: Starlings Roost Weather[6] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Starlings Roost Weather[7] | |||||||||||||
| Population of the Burgh of Nairn | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census year | Population | ||
| 1841 | 2672 | ||
| 1851 | 3407 | ||
| 1861 | 3835 | ||
| 1871 | 3751 | ||
| 1881 | 4165 | ||
| 1891 | 4014 | ||
| 1901 | 4487 | ||
| 1911 | 4661 | ||
| 1921 | 4458 | ||
| 1931 | 4201 | ||
| 1971 | 5929 | ||
| 2011 | 9773 | ||
On 27 May 1960 Nairn's The Regal Ballroom on Leopold Street played host to an act that became a huge cultural influence on the world of music. A cover band touring Scotland onThe Beat Ballad Show Tour withJohnny Gentle as the lead vocalists and featuring three relatively unknown musicians—the founding members ofThe Beatles.John Lennon,Paul McCartney andGeorge Harrison, who played under the name The Silver Beetles. The cover act's set list includedRaining in My Heart byBuddy Holly andI Need Your Love Tonight byElvis Presley.[10][11] The Ballerina Ballroom of Nairn hosted many famous acts over the years, includingPink Floyd andThe Who in 1967,Status Quo in 1970, andFleetwood Mac andSlade in 1971. The town continues to host the Nairn International Jazz Festival[12] each August, usually attracting some well-known musicians, includingBob Wilber and theSoprano Summit Jazz supergroup.[13]
One link to Nairn's agricultural cultural roots is the Nairn Farmer's Show, hosted by the Nairnshire Farming Society since 1798. The show features livestock competitions of cattle, sheep and horses with trade stands as well as craft and food fairs. Locals produce baked goods, honey, jams and handicrafts such as knitting to be pitted against each other in contest.[14] Many of the people of Nairn have a passion for cooking and this is shown in the three-day Taste of Nairn food and drink festival event hosting the WorldTattie Scone Championship.[15]
Nairn is home to the Little Theatre, run by the Nairn Drama Club, which was established in 1946. Each year the club produces a number of shows of varying genres, with the annual Christmas panto the largest production of all. The Theatre began in dilapidated premises but was rebuilt and reopened in 2004. In 2007 Oscar-winning actressTilda Swinton, who lives in Nairn, created a film festival entitled "Ballerina Ballroom Cinema of Dreams", which was held in the Nairn Public Hall.[16] It generated worldwide press about the festival and Nairn.[17]
The people of Nairn also appreciate the written arts and host for the annual Nairn Book & Arts festival in September at the Nairn Community & Arts Centre. Guests have included authors such asHelen Sedgwick, journalistJohn Sergeant and royal guestCamilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The events have included speakers, performers, cinema and readings of local poetOlive Fraser.[18]
Nairn is serviced by onesecondary school,Nairn Academy, on Duncan Drive in the Tradespark area, where it has been since 1976. Before that it was in the building occupied by the current RosebankPrimary school on Lodgehill Road. Nairn Academy was founded in 1832 under the name Rose's Academical Institution by Captain James Rose.[19] Other facilities formerly existed, including the boys' preparatory boarding school known as Seaforth in 1901 and Alton Burn in 1911.[20] As well as Rosebank Primary school, Nairn is also the location of Millbank Primary school on Millbank Crescent. Nairn Academy also takes students from Cawdor, Croy and Auldearn Primary Schools.
In 1818 we are offered insight into the status of the school facilities by the parish minister.
The parochial school is by no means fit for the education of one half of the children of the parish; and the situation of it is such, that the health of both teacher and children, is very much endangered.
— Grant, James,Parochial Returns Made to the Select Committee Appointed to Inquire into the Education of The Poor (National Library of Scotland) (1818)
In 2021 Nairn Academy ranked 204th out of 340 schools based on the percentage of pupils attainingfive Highers, at 35%—higher than nearby Inverness High School with 13% and below Inverness Royal Academy with 41% and Charleston Academy Highland with 45%.[21]
In 1617 Nairn selected John Dunbar of Moynes as theMember of Parliament in theParliament of Scotland for the constituencyNairnshire. This constituency was last represented byJohn Forbes of Culloden in 1707.
In 1708 following theActs of Union, 1707, Parliament of Scotland constituency Nairnshire was replaced by adistrict of burghsconstituency of theHouse of Commons of theParliament of Great Britain to 1801 and of theParliament of the United Kingdom. From 1708 to 1918 Nairn was part of the county constituency ofInverness-shire.
The constituency was abolished in 1918 and the Forres and Nairn components were merged into the then new constituency ofMoray and Nairn. Moray and Nairn was acounty constituency of theHouse of Commons of theParliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1983. This was split for the1983 general election and incorporated intoMoray andInverness, Nairn and Lochaber.
Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber was acounty constituency of theHouse of Commons of theParliament of the United Kingdom from 1983 to 1997.Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, was acounty constituency of theHouse of Commons of theParliament of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2005 represented by Labour'sDavid Stewart.
Nairn was part of the constituency ofInverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey from 2005 to 2024, represented first byDanny Alexander (Lib Dem) and thenDrew Hendry (SNP).
Nairn is currently residing in theMoray West, Nairn and Strathspeyconstituency of theHouse of Commons of theUK Parliament. Nairn has been represented by SNP MPGraham Leadbitter in theHouse of Commons of the United Kingdom since 4 July 2024.
Founded under theScotland Act 1998, a devolvedScottish Parliament was legalised placing Nairn into the Scottish Parliament in 1999 as part of theHighland council area and constituencyInverness East, Nairn and Lochaber.Fergus Ewing of theScottish National Party was elected to represent Nairn in the1999 Scottish Parliament election as the firstMember of the Scottish Parliament (MSP).
Boundaries were redrawn before the2011 Scottish Parliament election, dividing the area betweenInverness and Nairn andSkye, Lochaber and Badenoch. Fergus Ewing was once again elected in the 2011 election and continues to serve.
Nairn is part of inward 18, Nairn & Cawdor, of the Highland Council area. The head of thisburgh or ward council is aprovost, the chief magistrate or convener of a burgh, the equivalent of amayor in other parts of the United Kingdom. The provost of Nairn is Laurie Fraser.[22]
Formed in 1973 the community council is the lowest tier of local government in Scotland. Nairn District Council, was replaced by a larger authority, Highland Council in 1996 and community councils were formed to represent local interests. Nairn is represented by two local community councils. The Nairn West & Suburban Community Council and the Nairn River Community Council.
During the 2011 census, the majority of responses from Nairn indicated a religious association, with the largest group belonging to the Church of Scotland, although this group was smaller than those who indicated that they followed no religion.[23]
| Religion | members |
|---|---|
| Church of Scotland | 3,625 |
| Roman Catholic | 607 |
| Christian (other) | 887 |
| Muslims | 35 |
| Other religion | 82 |
| No Religion | 3,791 |
Nairn was included traditionally within thediocese of Moray, believed to be formed in the reign ofAlexander I of Scotland around 1122, which extended from Spey to theRiver Beauly. A writ in the time ofWilliam the Lion shows the Bishop of Nairn had given possession of lands in Nairn to King William for the building of Nairn Castle, implying that much of the land of Nairn and the castle had previously belonged to the church or the bishop himself. Possession ofAuldearn was provided in compensation.[24]
There are twoChurch of Scotland congregations in the town. The Old Parish Church, commonly known as Nairn Old Parish Church, is on Academy Street. It was erected in 1811 and contains 902 sittings.
A second working building is on the High Street. Nairn St Ninians opened in 1881 as aFree Church of Scotland and is of an Early French Gothic design, costing £7000 and containing 1200 sittings. In 1900 The Free Church and The United Presbyterian Church united, becoming Nairn High Church. In 1974 The High Church united with The Rosebank Church, and the new congregation took the nameSt. Ninian's, the Patron Saint of the Burgh and one preeminent in bringing the Gospel to Scotland. This parish extends across most of the town and out towards Auldearn.[25]
St Columba's Episcopal Church is on Queen Street; it was built of sandstone with a slate roof in 1857 and is still in use. There is also St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Academy Street, founded as a result of Gaelic-speaking Roman Catholics who moved from the island of Barra to Nairn in the second half of the 19th century.[26]
Other worshipping communities include Nairn Baptist Church, Nairn Free Church, and The Pentecostal Church of God.
Islamic practice within the area dates to before World War II, with nine Muslim graves for the fallen veterans in nearby Kingussie.[27] Lady Zainab, also known as Lady Evelyn Cobbold and Zainab Cobbold, is a local figure of note and daughter of the 7th Earl of Dunmore. Born in 1867, she is the first known British woman to complete theHajj pilgrimage toMecca in 1932 and continued to practice her faith until her death in Inverness in 1963. She was buried in Glencarron in 1963 and in accordance with the principles of Islam.[28]
The number of Muslims noted in the 2011 Census of Scotland is reflective of the lack of mosques in Nairn. The nearest mosque is Inverness Mosque, 16 miles (26 kilometres) west, and the nextElgin Mosque, 21 miles (34 kilometres) east. In the north of Scotland prayers times can start as early as 02:00 for Fajr and 11:00 for Isha.[29]
Paganism, Wicca, or Witchcraft has a long history in Scotland and in Nairn. In nearbyElgin, east of the cathedral exists the Order Pot, a deep pool of water used to test the witches of Nairn up to 1560.[30] Over fifty people were tried and killed within two miles (three kilometres) of Nairn, including Issobel Nicoll, Margaret Wilsone and Allexander Ledy in the 16th and 17th century as witches and warlocks.[31]
In 1662 a woman living in Auldearn, two miles (three kilometres) from Nairn,Isobel Gowdie, was accused and confessed to four counts of Witchcraft and is immortalised inThe Confession of Isobel Gowdie, an orchestra piece by composerJames MacMillan.
Practices continued into 1848, as a corps creagh was discovered on the bank of theRiver Nairn near the town—a life-sized clay figure filled with needles placed in such a way that water dipped over its heart. It was said that when the clay dissolved, the man the clay represented would die.[32]
Witches and warlocks were as plentiful a crop in Moray and Nairn as in other parts of Scotland.
— Rampini, Charles, 'The County Histories of Scotland, Moray and Nairn (1898)'
Modern pagans have formed online groups such as the Scottish Pagan Federation, Highland Pagan Open Circle and East Scotland Heathen Moot which hold Nairnshire residents within their members.[33][34][35]
Nairn has a wide range of sporting clubs and activities. The main Nairn Sports Club, on Viewfield Drive, offers facilities for weight and cardio training, tennis, squash, table tennis and badminton, among other sports. It offers classes in spinning,pilates andyoga, among others.[36] On the coast the Nairn Leisure Centre holds Nairn's only swimming pool as well as indoor and outdoor fitness suites.[37] Nairn hosts the onlySynchronised Swimming (Artistic Swimming) club in the north of Scotland.
Most notable of the sporting activities of Nairn is the NairnHighland Games, a yearly event taking place since 1867. It attracts large crowds of tourists and locals. Events include the more modernhalf-marathon and traditional Highland games events, the tug-of-war,shot put,highland dancing andtossing the caber. These are the only completely free entry games in Scotland.[38][39]
Another major entry in the Nairn calendar is the Nairn 10k race. Starting in Nairn High Street and ending there below the clock tower, the course leaves the boundaries of the town and takes runners into rural Nairnshire via its roads. The event also hosts a fun run which is untimed and can be entered by children as young as nine. The event is hosted by the Nairn Road Runners, another of Nairn's athletics clubs. They practice cross country, road running, hill running and ultra distance races. So they can compete themselves, the event is often staffed by ex-members and volunteers.[40][41]
The oldest recorded sporting club of Nairn is the Nairn Curling Club, established before 1854 as members of theRoyal Caledonian Curling Club, The club still has a complete members' list from 1907 to 2007.[42][43][44]
Nairn has three local football teams.Nairn County of Station Park on Balblair Road play in theHighland Football League established in 1914 andNairn St. Ninian, who are members of theScottish Junior Football Association, are based at Showfield Park. The Nairn St Ninian Women's team, established in 2016, play in theScottish Women's Football league.
The Nairn County Cricket Club have been members of the North of Scotland Cricket Association since it was founded in 1893. The club plays and hosts at the pavilion in Nairn links and holds a yearly Kwik Cricket Competition for all the schools in the Nairn area with an aim for junior development and encouragement of young people joining the sport.[45]
Nairn is known as a golfing destination, with two 18-hole Championship golf courses. One of these, TheNairn Golf Club, was established in 1887. Its designers include Archie Simpson,Old Tom Morris and James Braid. It has hosted many tournaments culminating in the 1999Walker Cup and was the venue for the 2012Curtis Cup. The second is Nairn Dunbar Golf Club, established in 1899 and host of the World One-Arm Golfers Championship, British Seniors Amateur Championship and The 91st Boys Amateur Championship.
Nairn is home to the Nairn St NinianBowling club on Viewfield Drive, established in 1961, and Bowls Scotland Silver Mark accredited club, on Albert Street.[46][47][48]
Being on the coast Nairn enjoys easy access to the North Sea and has had a sailing club since 1968.[49] It has a membership clubhouse at Nairn harbour. Nairn Coastal Rowing Club, organised under The Scottish Coastal Rowing Association, was established in 2017 and merged with the Ardersier Boat Club in November 2018. It hosts two 22 ft (6.5m) long by 5 ft 8in (1.7m) beam (width) boats.[50] Another modern addition to Nairn's sporting landscape is the Nairn Boxing Club, established in 2019. It hosted professional boxer Adian Williamson in the High Street gym.[51]
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