One of Walkhighland's pick for Scotland's best wee hills

[dogplodder]

I didn't know Struie Hill was in WH's list of Scotland's best wee hills until after we'd done it. We did it because it looked a fine short walk with a good viewpoint for a day we weren't doing anything more challenging. It ticked all the boxes for that.

We took the public road up towards the farmhouse at Rheguile, near Edderton, and parked out of the way of farm vehicles. From here we took a right fork in the track and straight away the mast on top of the hill at the NE end of the ridge was obvious. It's good to see where you're going from the start. It's not the highest point, which is over to the west, but it's a good viewpoint for the Dornoch Firth.

NE top of Struie hill

The track gives easy walking, crossing the Lochvie Burn and passing two houses marked as Leachonich on OS maps. The hard track ends at the second house where a rougher track forks right through a gate and at this point can be muddy from cattle. The going improves further on.

When this track ends a path continues up to the ridge where a right turn leads to the mast and a left turn to the true summit along the ridge.

View west towards true summit

West to upper Dornoch Firth

East to the mouth of the Dornoch Firth

On 16 August 1809 the Dornoch Firth was the scene of the Meikle Ferry disaster when an over-laden ferryboat sank with the loss of 99 lives.

Zoomed to bridge over Dornoch Firth and distant Portmahomack

The road bridge was built in 1991, when it was also proposed to build a rail bridge which would have cut 30 minutes off the train journey from Inverness to Thurso, but this never got government funding so the train continues to go the longer way round by Ardgay and Lairg.

West again

From the NE top we returned to the col then continued on a visible path along the ridge towards the true summit.

Heading west along the ridge

Looking back to east summit

Middle top

Road to Ardgay (the Struie)

View east again

It was quite windy and the next photo of Moira approaching the summit shows how strong the wind was at this point.

Struie Hill summit

Close to the B9176 - but not as good a walk to climb it that way

Zoomed to radio mast

We had originally planned to take a more direct line from the summit back to Rheguile, but after a brief discussion decided to return the way we came. It meant it was slightly longer but navigation was easy and the views were good.

Returning east along the ridge

Track back to the farm

Struie ridge

We were back at the car in fine time for paying a visit to Storehouse of Foulis on the way home. A good easy walk and one I would do again with the grandkids.

[BlackPanther]

Oh, Struie. We really enjoyed this one - did the same route as you, but returned via Polagharrie farm. I'm still hoping we'll get a chance one day to walk this ridge in full winter conditions... Probably not this year though.

I have seen several reports of this hill climbed from the west, from Cadha Mor viewpoint, but it doesn't really give the justice to the ridge!

[Huff_n_Puff]

You're right this is a good wee hill for days when its a wee hill that hits the spot. We have been up from the B9176 and walked the ridge to the radio mast rather than the route you and BP used. The advantage of this is there is no farmland to cross and therefore no possible encounters with livestock that may not appreciate the canine members of the team .

Either way the views are great.

[dogplodder]

Oh, Struie. We really enjoyed this one - did the same route as you, but returned via Polagharrie farm. I'm still hoping we'll get a chance one day to walk this ridge in full winter conditions... Probably not this year though.

I have seen several reports of this hill climbed from the west, from Cadha Mor viewpoint, but it doesn't really give the justice to the ridge!

I thought so too - except that when Huff_n_Puff did it from the west they did the full ridge as well. Never thought of doing that....

[dogplodder]

You're right this is a good wee hill for days when its a wee hill that hits the spot. We have been up from the B9176 and walked the ridge to the radio mast rather than the route you and BP used. The advantage of this is there is no farmland to cross and therefore no possible encounters with livestock that may not appreciate the canine members of the team .

Either way the views are great.

Yes of course. Don't know why but I thought the choice was between either the full ridge from the east or a quick up and down from the west! I should consult you about potential routes in future.