This walk explores part of the forested estate of Carbisdale Castle overlooking the Kyle of Sutherland. The route is varied including some up and down sections and passing the Castle which is now a Youth Hostel. The walk can also be started from across the river at Invershin which adds 2.5km to the round trip.
Summary
Good forest paths with short sections shared with mountain bikers.
Terrain
Carbisdale Forestry Commission car park or Invershin
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1. If starting from Invershin, cross the footbridge over the Kyle of Sutherland; the bridge was added alongside the rail bridge in 2000 and can save a long detour. Follow the footpath alongside the railway until the road is reached. Turn right for 300 metres and then turn left and follow the drive to the Carbisdale Forestry Commission car park. From here follow the blue marker posts uphill through the rhododendrons on the marked path. There are short sections, such as this one, which are shared with the excellent mountain bike trails that the Forestry Commission has created here - care should be taken. After a short distance bear right at the T junction and continue until the main driveway to the Castle is reached. Turn right here and pass the stables with its grand gateway and buildings.
2. Soon the driveway reaches Carbisdale Castle. Built between 1905 and 1917 by the Duchess of Sutherland. When the Duke died the Duchess initially inherited a great part of his estates, his family contested the will and the Duchess was tried and briefly imprisoned for destroying documents. Eventually a financial settlement was reached and the Sutherland family agreed to fund the Duchess a new castle so long as it was outside the Sutherland boundary. She had Carbisdale built just inside Ross but overlooking Sutherland - and you may note that the clocktower has clocks on only three sides, not even giving the time of day to Sutherland. The castle is now a youth hostel (see Sutherland Hostels) although it retains many of its original features including a series of marble statues. At the junction just before the castle, turn left and then immediately left again heading uphill following the blue marker posts.
Photo © di_greatoutdoors, licensed under CcbySA.
3. The clear path climbs steadily and passes the mountain bike trail - keep straight ahead. Soon after this turn to the right and descend to a lookout over the Kyle of Sutherland. Keep on the main path as it meanders through pine trees. The path then reaches a picnic table turn right here away from the table and head uphill for a very short distance before turning sharp left onto a marked path that continues through the trees. After a while a bench is past where the sounds from the waterfall below can be heard. The path heads downhill and meets a track, turn right here backtracking uphill slightly. The route now runs alongside a burn with pretty waterfalls and a bench on an uphill section. Ignore a track coming in from the right and head towards the lochan.
4. There is a short detour to the waterside picnic table, otherwise turn left before the lochan and follow the path to Montrose Bridge. Follow the path along a gap in the pines until the site of Carbisdale Battle is reached. Fought in 1650, this was the last battle fought by one of Scotland's greatest generals, the Marquis of Montrose. Montrose was defeated and wounded by the Covenanters but escaped, but he was eventually captured by the victorious Covenanters and was executed in Edinburgh. Looking towards the information board head left up through the trees, eventually crossing a wooden bridge and reaching a forest track where you turn right. At the next junction keep right, go through a gate onto a track and just after the entrance to the two houses turn sharp left along a path marked for the Castle.
5. Follow this path, ignoring the path coming in from the left which is a mountain bike trail. After a while the walls and gateway to the Castle's walled garden are passed on the right. After this the path plunges back into the thick rhododendrons and soon reached the T junction near the beginning of the walk. Turn right here to return to the car park and the start of the walk.
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