Tain is the oldest Royal Burgh in Scotland and presently has a population of about 4,500. It repays exploration on foot as there are many interesting old buildings. Tain through Time, one of the main tourist attractions, offers the visitors a personal CD guided tour around St. Duthas Collegiate Church and the main buildings of the town. Tain through Time is situated just off the main street and is well sign posted.

View from front windows overlooking the Dornoch Firth.

Other places well worth a visit are Tain Silver which produces silver pieces inspired by Celtic and Pictish designs, Tain Pottery which creates a wide range of products, Glenmorangie Distillery and Tain Golf Course, designed in 1890 by Old Tom Morris.

There are other distilleries and many golf courses within easy driving distance from Tain.

Slightly further afield are Anta Pottery and Tain Pottery (both off the A9), Dornoch and Portmahomack Beaches, Tarbet Ness Lighthouse near Portmahomack Village, the Falls of Shin and Dunrobin Castle, just outside Golspie to the north.

There are interesting cycling and walking trails in the area. Information on these can be found on the Tain website.