This short woodland walk from Evanton visits the Black Rock Gorge, an unexpectedly dramatic box canyon which featured in the film of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Summary
Paths and tracks through the woods, muddy in places. Great care is needed near the edge of the gorge. The return walk follows a minor road.
Terrain
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1. Park in the car park opposite the Cornerstone Bookshop in the centre of Evanton. There is an information board giving details on a number of short walks from here. Cross the main road and take the road between the Co-op and the Post Office heading towards an impressive old chapel which is now a private house. Turn right into Camden Street and follow this to the end where a signed track bends left to head uphill. Stay on the main track as it passes a couple of houses and then becomes tree-lined. At a junction continue ahead ignoring the two tracks on the right.
2. Follow the track with the woods on the left and a field on the right - Fyrish Monument can be seen up on the hill to the right. At the next junction of tracks bear right (small sign for Black Rock Gorge on a tree) to continue on a track high above the river down on the right. Keep straight ahead when another track is reached and soon after look out for a path on the right leading downhill (small sign for Black Rock Gorge). At the bottom of the hill you can detour to the first bridge over the gorge. This doesn't have the best view of the gorge which is deeper further upstream so return to the west side of the river and follow the fenced path along the gorge to reach a second bridge.
3. The scene looks placid enough until you are on the wooden footbridge itself, and look down. So narrow is the gorge that you might expect to see just a small stream below the bridge, but instead there is a dark chasm with the water over a hundred feet below. The sandstone rocks are strangely contorted and the gorge has an eerie, magical atmosphere - a fitting place to film a scene for the Harry Potter movies. So narrow is the gorge that it is extremely difficult to photograph - but it must be seen. Cross the bridge and climb up the path on the far side.
4. The path curves right and widens to follow a track with a field on the left side. Ignore any paths off to the right and continue up the track to reach a minor road. Turn right here and follow the road downhill passing the entrance to Balavoulin Cottage on the right and eventually reaching the main road. Turn right here and follow this, crossing the river and passing the entrance to the caravan park and the Novar Arms before reaching the start point.
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