A one-way coastal route from Rosemarkie to Cromarty - the return can be made by public transport (check the times). The first half of the walk is a rough walk along the shoreline with much interest; the second half is mostly on very quiet roads with good views.
Summary
The shoreline section of the walk cannot be completed at high tide, and runs over tiring pebbly terrain. The second section is mostly on quiet tarmac roads.
Terrain
Car park in Rosemarkie as the road leaves towards Cromarty.
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1. Park in the car park on the right hand side of the road as you leave Rosemarkie on the road to Cromarty. Walk down the road back into Rosemarkie, turning left by the Plough Inn to reach the seafront. Once down to the front, turn left on an initially tarmac path which crosses a small bridge and heads through a picnic area, keeping close to the sea. Once into the woods, the path is joined by another from the left; keep straight on. Soon the path leads onto the beach; keep along this all the way to Scart Craig. This section is not passable at high tide.
2. Continue along the mostly pebbly beach. The walk passes several caves and small sea stacks. When below Hillockhead Farm, there is a signposted route path leading up from the coast; this leads to the Rosemarkie - Cromarty minor road via Eathie. Continue along the beach, passing some larger caves. After some distance you'll reach an old stone bothy. This was an old salmon fishing station, and has now been restored and has interpretative boards about both the salmon fishing and local geologist and writer Hugh Miller. It offers excellent shelter on a wet day.
3. Continue along the coastline a short distance to reach a second bothy - this was a replacement for the earlier bothy and remained in use as a salmon fishing station into the 1980s. From here, follow the signposted and well-made path that leads up away from the coast. It swings left as it climbs up into the trees, eventually zigzagging up through the woods to reach the fields above. Continue along this path to reach a small car park with another interpretative board at Eathie.
4. Turn right along the tarmac road. The road curves round above the Eathie burn and passes a row a cottages by Navity. Continue along the road, which eventually bends left, heading NNW away from the coast. A couple of hundred metres after passing a small copse on the left, a track goes off to the right towards Mains Farm. Follow this track to the farm, where you can turn left (signposted) down a minor road into the fascinating village of Cromarty. An alternative and longer finish from Mains Farm would be to turn right and follow the route to McFarquhar's Cave and the Sutors.
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