An excellent walk through forestry and then along a distinctive ridge with extensive views.
Summary
Mostly easy to follow paths, slightly muddy in places. The descent from Cnoc Mor is very steep and ill-defined, but this can be avoided if desired.
Terrain
Blackmuir Wood Forestry car park.
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1. Park in the Blackmuir Wood Forestry car park, reached by turning off the south side of the A834 at the Contin end of Strathpeffer village. The walk begins by following the waymarked path from the car park itself. This bends left (sign on a tree) and passes by a lochan - look out for wildlife. It then rejoins the forestry track - turn right along it. Continue along the track to reach a series of log cabins. By the cabins, turn left through the gate. The track continues, passing a felled area on the left. Beyond this, a path heads off left - signed 'Ring Path'. Turn left onto this path. This winds between the claustrophobically planted sitka spruces, passing a bench.
2. At length another path joins in from the left, and the walk comes close enough to the edge of the forest to give views over Strathpeffer. The path crosses a muddy track, and eventually forks; take the left fork, signed 'Stone maze'. The Touchstone Maze is a short distance further on. It is the result of an ambitious recent project, and its 81 stones, arranged in 5 concentric circles, are based on the design of prehistoric labyrinths which can still be found in one or two places in England and Scandinavia. The stones are examples of the different types of rock that make up Scotland, and they are aligned with the solstices and important pagan festivals.
3. Continue on the path (marked green and blue) beyond the maze. This soon joins a larger path - bear left onto it. Continue on the main path when a smaller one heads off right, and then join a larger track, again bearing left. The track leaves the forest behind at a gate and stile. Ignore the path heading steeply uphill and walk along the track, with increasingly attractive views. The track slopes gently uphill to gain the saddle between Knock Farril and the Cnoc Mor ridge. Turn left on the saddle to ascend to the top of Knock Farril.
4. Knock Farril (or Knock Farrel) has steep sides making it a surprisingly impressive viewpoint. The summit is a wide, grassy square fringed by some strange looking rocks. These are in fact the remains of an extensive iron-age fortress. The stones were heated together during the construction so that they fused into a continuous mass of rock in a process known as 'vitrification'. Why or how this was done (the temperatures involved must have been very high) is a mystery; vitrified forts are common in this area but not found elsewhere. It is possible to continue and walk through to Dingwall. Otherwise, to continue the circuit, return back down to the saddle.
Photo: oldrollei
5. Rather than returning the way you came, you can continue past a seat and along the crest of the ridge, continuing to enjoy the views. Part way along is a small modern sculpture of three figures embracing. Continue to the next saddle, where there is another cross-roads of paths. If you wish to avoid the steep descent later on the walk, turn right here and then left onto a track further on to return to the start. Otherwise, cross the stile and continue along the ridge, keeping the forest fence on your right.
6. The narrow path sticks to the fence along the undulating ridge, passing a couple of stiles. The final ascent up to the summit of Cnoc Mor is steep, but the reward is more good views from the summit trig point, especially of Loch Ussie. Cross the stile from here into the forest, keeping right each time the path forks. It traverses round to the right across a steep slope to reach the stile you passed just before the final steep ascent. Don't go over the stile, but turn left down the path. This is narrow but fairly distinct; at any forks, always keep on the clearest path. It descends some distance, then traverses the slope leftwards before turning right straight downhill to reach a larger path. Turn right onto this and follow it until it reaches a track. Turn left on the track to return to the start.
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