A bird watchers haven, the River Wick is tidal for the first part of this walk and then lined with a diverse habitat. The final section of this mainly linear walk goes over rough farmland to visit a stone monument to the Battle of Altimarlach when in 1680 the Campbells won the Earldom of Caithness from the Sinclairs.
Summary
Clear and level paths until final section to the monument (which can be omitted) where the path is faint with some short steep climbs and a stream crossing.
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1. Begin from the car park in the centre of Wick, beside the river and behind the Somerfield supermarket. From the far end of the car park continue along the surfaced path alongside the river heading away from the town. Soon a pedestrian bridge is reached, do not cross this but continue on the right hand side of the river. This section of the river is a tidal estuary and provides a habitat for many wading birds. A wooden walkway provides a useful lookout with information boards.
2. Keep following the River Wick as it heads inland, the path is now a little distance from the water, but is surrounded by reeds and wetland, the perfect home for many small birds such as the sedge warbler and reed bunting. There are also many rare species of plants and the area attracts numerous dragon and damsel flies. Continue on passing a bend in the river with a section of wooden fence, and then pass, but do not cross, another footbridge. Soon climb a set of steps where there is a good view back over the river and stone seats.
3. The path continues beside a fence with good views inland. Cross a large stile over a fence and continue ahead until you reach a faint fork in the path with a large marker stone in the middle - bear left downhill here and head diagonally across the boggy ground at the bottom heading for the small footbridge over the stream. Once on the far side turn right upstream until a rough track heads to the left (opposite the old bridge) up the steep embankment.
4. At the top keep the right of the gorse bushes and follow a faint, and sometimes boggy track along the edge of the grazing ground heading for the prominent monument which can be seen ahead. The path is marked at intervals by posts with metal triangles. Cross a small stream and head diagonally to the left uphill looking for a stone stile to cross the stone wall. From here head to the fence and follow it until a stile which you cross and continue next to the fence for a short while. Some of this section maybe a little overgrown with gorse, the path soon makes its way downhill towards the river and crosses a stream.
5. Immediately after crossing the stream, head uphill on a slanting path through the bracken which leads up to the Battle of Altimarlach monument. This large stone cross was erected in 1901 to commemorate the battle of 1680 which is thought to be the last major clan battle fought in Scotland. Campbell of Glenorchy emerged the victor from the battle with the Sinclairs and claimed the Earldom of Caithness as a result. From the monument retrace your steps back to the riverside walk.
6. For the final section it is possible to cross the last pedestrian bridge (the first one passed on the outward route) and then loop back through part of Wick to the start. This first bridge leads onto a small island in the middle of the River. From here follow a smaller bridge to a play area. Turn left here and keep on the river bank all the way back to steps that lead up to the Bridge. Turn left here and then left again once over the bridge to descend the steps that lead back to the car park at the start of the walk.
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