A visit to the site of the ancient fort atop Craig Phadrig, the wooded hill that rises on the west side of Inverness. The short ascent reveals glorious views over the Beauly Firth.
Clear paths through woodland.
Buses from Inverness city centre.
Craig Phadrig car park.
From General Booths Road on the west side of the canal in Inverness, take Leachkin road (signed for New Craigs Hospital) at the traffic lights, then forking right onto Leachkin Brae (signed for Craig Phadrig forest walk). There is a car park off on the right side of the road a short distance up. There are a wealth of forest paths around the hill, so much variation is possible. Take the path that begins at the far end of the car park. The path is well surfaced and winds pleasantly through the forest. Just before the path rises to meet a forest track ahead, take the fork on the right which heads downhill initially before levelling off and heading uphill. At the next fork, keep right (yellow marker), and at the following fork, keep right again (blue marker). Keep left, uphill, on the main path when a side route heads off to the right.
After a short climb the path levels off a short distance below the top of the hill. To visit the iron-age fort, head left on the steep path which heads up to the obvious grassy clearing on the summit. This clearing is the site of the fort, thought to have been built around 500BC; all that remains are the completely grass-grown ramparts, which enclose an area 75 metres by 23 metres. The ramparts that remain are ten metres wide, reaching a height of four metres on the outside and one metre within; according to experts the walls once would have stood at least eight metres high. Excavation in 1971 revealed that the walls, like those at similar forts nearby, were vitrified, which means that the stonework has been heated or burned to such a temperature that the rocks have melted together. How precisely or why this was done is unclear. The fort was reoccupied in Pictish times around 600AD, and according to legend is where St Columba came to meet the Pictish King Brude.
There are fine views over the Beauly Firth towards Ben Wyvis, but the view over Inverness is unfortunately mostly obscured by the trees. Follow the path around the left hand rim of the fort to get the best views. At the far end pick up a path which descends steeply from the fort down through the trees.
This soon meets back up with the path that ran below the fort which you left earlier; turn left to continue the walk. At the next junction, with the yellow waymarked path, turn left. Keep straight ahead on the yellow trail until it reaches some newly built houses that have quite sensational views. Continue round on the track before branching left onto a clear path. Follow this path which returns to the car park.
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