Fairy Glen, Rosemarkie

Summary

This easy walk heads up a delightful wooded glen, with two attractive waterfalls. The Fairy Glen was once the scene of a well-dressing ceremony, where the children of the village decorated a pool, next to a spring, with flowers. This was said to ensure that the fairies kept the water supply clean. The return leg visits Rosemarkie's lovely sandy beach.

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Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

The walk follows a clear footpath throughout, with steps.

Getting there

Start

Car park on the right as the road leaves Rosemarkie towards Cromarty.

Public Transport

Bus to Rosemarkie.

Start Grid Ref

NH735577

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 3.3km / 2 miles
Time: 1 hour
Ascent: 90m (Profile)

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Walk Description

User reports (5)

Stage 1

Park in the car park on the right hand side of the road as you leave Rosemarkie on the road to Cromarty. There is an information board for the walk, which is an RSPB reserve, in the car park. Follow the path upstream, soon passing under the road bridge.

Stage 2

The path emerges on a track - turn right along this. Shortly afterwards, fork right onto a smaller path which keeps close to the banks of the burn. The glen is well wooded with beech, rowan, ash and oak, and carpeted with blue bells and primroses in the spring. The path crosses a wooden boardwalk, and then a footbridge. On the far side turn left to continue upstream.

Stage 3

You'll soon see a millpond to the right - this is at least a couple of hundred years old and was once a source of ice for the fish-houses in the village. Look out for dippers bobbing in the stream around here - the ones we saw seemed not to be bothered by the presence of people. Further on the path crosses back over the stream on another bridge. Just beyond here is the first of the Fairy Glen's waterfalls; an attractive twin falls. The path climbs a series of steps to the left of the fall and then crosses a steep slope - there's a rope handrail to help.

Stage 4

Just a short distance further on is the second and final falls, another twin fall. In front of the falls is a footbridge; the path on the far side leads up to the busy main road but there is no pavement so the best option for the return is to retrace your steps back down the glen as far as the footbridge.

Stage 5

Rather than crossing to retrace the outward route, stay on the east bank of the burn. The route soon heads under the roadbridge, and continues - now across the burn from the car park. Continue past several footbridges to reach Rosemarkie's lovely sandy beach. There's a beach cafe to the left, but to return to the car park, turn right then take the next road on the right (one way / no entry for vehicles sign). This leads back to the main road, and the start of the walk is a short distance further long.

Route Profile

Where to stay

Dingwall and Black Isle Hotels

Dingwall and Black Isle B&B

Dingwall and Black Isle cottages

Loch Ness hostels

Glamping and Camping

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