Climb up through farmland to explore the iron age fort of Knockfarrel, a fantastic viewpoint overlooking Dingwall and the Cromarty Firth.
Summary
Waymarked footpaths, one steep section, track, road with pavement.
Terrain
Dingwall museum on the high street.
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Regular bus and train services from Inverness and the north.
Open Traveline Scotland
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1. There is a large free car park just south of the high street, signed and accessed from the A862. From here it is a short walk to the Museum and clock-towered Town Hall on the High Street which is the starting point for the walk.. From the car park walk between the shop mobility hut and the public toilets to follow a narrow lane to the high street. Turn right to reach the Museum which is free and houses a permanent display about Dingwall as well as temporary exhibitions. From the Museum follow the high street back east passing the council buildings as well a number of takeaways to reach the traffic lights. Go straight across here and follow the A834 for a short distance, passing the police headquarters on the right.
2. Where the main road bends left continue straight ahead up Blackwell's Street to head towards Knockbain. The road soon narrows to a country lane and climbs steadily. At a fork keep left onto Knockbain Road, Tulloch Castle can soon be seen to the right, and as the houses are left behind there are good views of the surrounding countryside.
3. Keep left at the entrance to Knockbain House and then straight on at the next fork (bearing left leads to Knockbain Farmhouse). Once past the farm, keep straight ahead to climb up reach a barn just before some forestry. The track is less steep now and passes deciduous trees and fields before climbing more steeply again. Looking back there are great views over the Firth, with the oil rigs often visible near Nigg, waiting for servicing. Go through a kissing gate to stay on the lane which is lined with yellow-flowering gorse and broom for much of the year. The volcanic plug of Knockfarrel can be clearly seen ahead to the right.
4. After the track levels off, a sign is reached just before a gate. Turning right here is a short cut avoiding the fort atop Knockfarrel. Unless taking this option, keep straight on through the gate following the sign for Strathpeffer. Follow the track which becomes a road and at a T junction continue straight ahead to pass a phone box and tiny Knockfarrel Post Office.
5. After two houses, turn right along a road towards a single house. Pass this and take the left hand fork to follow the track to a parking area on the lowest point of the ridge. (You could link from here with our walk to Knockfarrel from Strathpeffer.) Turn right here to climb the short distance to the top of the fort. This was a 3000 year old vitrified fort, where stones were heated to such high temperatures that they fused together to create super strong ramparts (archaeologists are still mystified by the process). From the end of the fort follow the path down the nose with great views in all directions.
6. A short way after a stile, a sign is reached, turn left here for Fodderty. At the bottom of the hill climb a stile and turn left to cross the old railway line and reach the main road. Cross this and follow the lane opposite turning right at the T junction. The track passes between fields, and crosses the railway on a level crossing after which the route passes Brae Farm Cottages and then narrows. Go through 2 kissing gates and then pass in front of the barns of Docharty Farm before turning left between cottages (signed) to pass behind the farmyard itself before returning to the original lane. Pass four houses on the left to reach a minor road, turn right to follow this downhill. Turn left when another road is reached and then right at the main road to follow this all the way back to the centre of Dingwall.
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