Cromarty is located at the seaward end of the Black Isle, at the mouth of the Cromarty Firth. It was once a Royal Burgh, and much of the village is original 18th century design, with little influence by modern-day architecture. It was also once an important port, with fishing and trade from the little harbour, built by Sir Thomas Ross of Pitkerie. However, as time marched on, the main coastal road and, perhaps more importantly, the railway, passed Cromarty by and the village became less relevant to traders.

Hugh Millers Cottage, dating from 1711 and now in the care of the National Trust for Scotland, is open to the public and a major attraction in Cromarty. The house is fitted out in period design, as it was when Hugh Miller lived there. Miller was a well-known stonemason, geologist, preacher and journalist who was revered by such names as Andrew Carnegie.

Just across the Cromarty Firth is the Barmac oilrig contruction yard at Nigg, once the mainstay of Scotland's oil industry. There is still much work here, but the yard at Nigg is now a shadow of its former self in the days of the oil boom. The number of these rigs docked in the Cromarty Firth is said by some to be a good indication of the state of the Scottish oil industry. If the rigs are in the firth, they are not in the North Sea producing or exploring oil. Some are brought in for refitting, but some are merely 'parked' in the firth while not in use. The Cromarty Firth is deep and an excellent port which has played host to the QE2 among other super-liners.