This attractive walk combines sections alongside the broad River Conon and a circuit around Dunglass Island - once the site of a fort. The return is along a fine avenue of trees with views over the Cromarty Firth.
Summary
Paths along farm fields and the riverside; return is on an attractive track. Can be muddy in places.
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1. There is a signed parking area on a bridge near the war memorial at the north end of Maryburgh, there is a also a map of local walks here. Walk back along the main street towards Conon Bridge, passing the shop and keeping on the right hand side and staying on the pavement when the main road curves to the left to cross the railway and then the river. Keeping this side of the railway follow the pathway into Seaforth Place and keep straight on. Follow the road as it bends right and heads uphill. Approximately half way up the hill take a footway with steps on the left into Muirdean Road. Follow the road round heading left and downhill and then round to the right until the end of the road. Here follow the grassy pathway between the houses and the railway line.
2. Ignore the footbridge to the left and keep straight on soon leaving the houses of Maryburgh behind. After passing a large tree and the pedestrian level crossing on the left keep on the clear path following the edge of the fields, keeping the trees on your left. Follow this path along the field edge for about 1km. Don't be tempted to follow any small paths down towards the riverbank on the left as these are often flooded in places. Eventually the bridge to Dunglass Island is reached.
3. Cross the bridge onto the island and follow the path to the left around the edge of the field. The island stands in the middle of two sections of the River Conan and was once the site of an iron age fort. Before the trees at the north end of the island are reached head to the right across the field on a narrow path. This diversion is necessary as there is an impassable water channel blocking the way around the edge of the island. The path soon reaches the other side of the island and follows the riverbank. Here there are green marker posts, follow these to keep to the path nearest the riverside, although if this is too wet underfoot or flooded it is possible to follow the track at the edge of the field instead.
4. The path soon reaches a bench and the weir, keep following the riverside path. Where the water is slower there are a number of fishing spots on this popular salmon river and a fishing hut is passed. Further on the riverside path crosses a channel on a bridge, sometimes the access to the bridge is waterlogged and it is possible to stay on the track instead. Otherwise cross the bridge and continue along the path to reach the large fishing hut and weir at the south end of the island. From here follow the track back to the bridge and after crossing, turn left to continue along through the fields next to the river.
5. Soon the weir can be seen again and then the farmhouse and cottages at Balnain on the hillside on the right. The path passes some large oak trees and then keeps to the right of a small wood, leaving the river behind. Where a stile heads into the woods take a right turn to follow a faint path along an earth bank with a hedge on the left uphill. This emerges at a track, keep left to follow the minor road towards Brahan House. At a clear crossroads turn right onto a track, passing a pretty cottage. The other way leads to Brahan House and the caravan site. Follow the straight track through an avenue of trees with Broad Wood on the right.
6. Keep following the track, after a while there are good views over the Cromarty Firth ahead. The track re-enters the wood, keep straight on, ignoring a signed path to the right which provides an alternative route to Maryburgh. Where the path forks just after a metal gate, keep right to head down through the wood to the backs of houses. The path soon emerges onto a road, turn left here and follow it until a T junction. Turn left again to follow the road around the park curving right and passing the primary school before reaching the main road at the war memorial. Turn left here to return to the parking area.
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