Mermaid of the North — Attraction in Scotland

Made by sculptor Steve Hayward from Hilton, sculpted the the 10ft bronzed wood mermaid statue in 2007, the Highland Year of Culture. The Mermaid of the North is part of the area’s Seaboard Sculpture Trail. In 2014 the mermaid was replaced with a bronze cast model as she was heavily damaged in 2012 due to storms.

Mermaid’s origins are deep rooted in our Easter Ross folklore and culture, but the Hilton Mermaid story tells us that once a fisherman named Donal stole a beautiful mermaid away to be his wife and hid her tail. Years later, after bearing his children she found her tail and escaped back to sea, returning regularly to the shore to bring fish to her hungry children. The infoboard just up from the Mermaid reads the following:

Once upon a time a fisherman named Donal spotted a beautiful woman with long red hair sitting on a rock by the shore. Intrigued, he crept closer to her and discovered she was a mermaid. Donal was a lonely man, so decided to make the mermaid his wife. He grabbed her left hand so she couldn’t escape. Mermaids have all their strength in their left hand so this is how you capture them. Donal took her home and hid her tail. They married and had lots of children and she settled into a domesticated life. Then one day when she was cleaning she found her tail and escaped back to sea. When Donal found her gone he headed to the shore to beg her to return home. She refused, but visited the shore daily to meet Donal and her children, bringing them gifts...

Tucked away on the scenic shores of the Moray Firth in Balintore, Easter Ross, the Mermaid of the North is a striking sculpture that blends art, mythology, and landscape into a truly memorable stop on the North Coast 500 route.

Created by artist Steve Hayward in 2007 as part of the Seaboard Sculpture Trail, the 10-foot bronze and stainless-steel statue depicts a mythical mermaid seated on a rock known locally as “Clach Dubh” (the Black Rock), gazing out over the sea. She represents the legend of a mermaid who was said to have fallen in love with a Highlander, adding a touch of local folklore and mystery to the windswept coastline.

The mermaid has weathered both storms and time—literally. In 2012, she was damaged by a severe storm and later restored with a stronger design, now resting on a specially built plinth to better withstand the elements. This resilience adds a layer of narrative to the sculpture—echoing the enduring spirit of the sea and the communities it supports.

What makes the Mermaid of the North so captivating isn’t just the sculpture itself, but its setting. With the wild sea behind her and often dramatic Highland skies overhead, she invites reflection and photo opportunities in equal measure. It’s peaceful, a little haunting, and...

I was planning to visit Tarbat Ness Lighthouse and I find out I can visit such an amazing place on my way and I changed my plan to visit the first Mermaid of the North first and I did 🤗 The Stunning 11ft tall Mermaid of the North sits on her rock on the shore of the Seaboard Village of Balintore. Inspired by local folklore she was designed as part of a Sculpture Park celebrating local heritage, Folklore, Faith, Fortitude, Fishing & Four Corners of the World. To visit the Mermaid of the North please continue to the Seaboard Centre where there is ample car parking and take the short walk along the Sculpture Trail. You can have your NC500 Passport stamped with the Mermaid of the North stamp at the Seaboard Centre which is located near to the statue. Hope you enjoy my information and if you want to learn more about cosy places in Scotland and around the world, please follow me here and if you don't mind like...