Fairy Glen, Rosemarkie

DINGWALL, THE BLACK ISLE AND STRATHCONON


Summary :	An easy walk up a lovely wooden glen leads to two pretty waterfalls. The Fairy Glen was once the scenery of a well-dressing ceremony, where the children of the village decorated a pool, next to a spring, with flowers. This ensured the fairies kept the water supply clean.
Terrain :	The walk follows a clear footpath throughout.
Grade :		Distance :	3km/1.75 miles
Bog Factor :		Time :	1 hour
Start :	Car park on the right as the road leaves Rosemarkie towards Cromarty	Grid ref :	NH735577
Map :	View an OS map showing this route Buy Explorer 432 - Black Isle online	Ascent :	100m
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Public Transport :	[Click for timetables - choose Area 3]

1. Park in the car park on the right hand side of the road as you leave Rosemarkie on the road to Cromarty. There is an information board for the walk, which is an RSPB reserve, in the car park. Follow the path upstream, soon passing under the road bridge. Shortly afterwards, fork right onto a smaller path which keeps close to the banks of the stream.

2. The glen is well wooded with beech, rowan, ash and oak, and carpeted with blue bells and primroses in the spring. The path soon crosses a wooden bridge and continues up the far bank. You'll soon see a millpond to the right - this is at least a couple of hundred years old and was once a source of ice for the fish-houses in the village. Look out for dippers bobbing in the stream around here - the ones we saw seemed not to be bothered by the presence of people. Further on the path crosses back over the stream on another bridge. Just beyond here is the first of the Fairy Glen's waterfalls; an attractive twin falls. The path climbs a series of steps to the left of the fall and then crosses a steep slope - there's a rope handrail to help.

3. Just a short distance further on is the second and final falls, another twin fall. The path from here used to cross the stream on a bridge and ascend to the main road, but this is busy with traffic and it is better to retrace your steps. At the time of our visit in 2007 the bridge had been removed due to damage but the intention is to eventually replace it.

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Route profile

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