walking/hiking in the scottish highlands

Walking

Walking is available just about anywhere. There is a huge variety of walks available for either the serious Munro buster or those who enjoy a gentle stroll in some of the finest scenery in the world.  There is something for all abilities – you can stroll on the foreshore in front of the house or aim for the Fyrish monument which you can see on the skyline from the village.

A two minute walk from the house takes you to the ruined church but it is the ancient burial ground that is so interesting. It is beautifully kept and has a wide diversity of "residents". Just past the church you can walk over the wooden bridge which spans the Skiach River. From here you can walk beside the river to Evanton Village, through the village and back across the bridge over the A9 and along the foreshore approaching the house from the opposite direction.

Take a short drive along the A9 towards Alness. After crossing the River Alness park in the first layby on the left hand side of the road. You can walk down to the river and stroll through beautiful scenery, past the weir, into the village of Alness. Alness is a very pretty village with many interesting shops and tearooms. There is a path on the opposite side of the river for the return journey.

From the house you can see the Cromarty Bridge. If you drive in that direction and stop off at the Storehouse of Foulis you can walk on the foreshore and, at the right height of tide, see seals basking on the rocks or watch from the hide on the waters edge. The Storehouse has an excellent shop for souvenirs as well as a restaurant.
 

Back to Nature

Seals can be seen regularly from Kiltearn House, along with the occasional dolphin! For a more comprehensive view visit Dolphin Ecosse, based at Cromarty on the tip of the Black Isle. Here you can join Dolphin and Nature trips as well as pick up Boat Charters on the Moray Firth, which is home to a population of Bottlenose dolphins, and see these beautiful creatures in their natural environment.

At North Kessock on the Black Isle is the Black Isle Wildlife and Country Park. If you are interested in animals and birds or just countryside, you will enjoy a visit to this quiet corner of the Black Isle its an ideal place for all the family. You can feed the ducks, geese and swans, see the friendly goats, pot-bellied pigs, rare sheep and cattle or stroke the rabbits.

Loch Ness, which is reputed to be home to the Loch Ness Monster is an easy 30 or 40 minutes drive from Evanton. Drumnadrochit and Urquart Castle are the main centres along the lochside where you will find everything for the dedicated monster hunter, including exhibitions and boat trips.

For water of a different kind the area has outstanding waterfalls. Two that are easily accessible are Rogie Falls which is on the B835 about 15miles from Evanton (through Strathpeffer) and Falls of Shin 27 miles on the B837 between Bonar Bridge and Lairg. The latter is a must to visit between June and September when the salmon are spawning and need to make their way upstream and must leap the falls to do so.

The Highland regions of Scotland offer a great deal to birdwatchers. The vast area holds some habitats of prime importance in national and international terms. The flow country of Caithness and Sutherland are famous for upland breeding waders especially Greenshank. Ross-shire is a land of contrasts between the hard, high mountains and rocky coastline of the west where Black-throated Divers and Golden Eagles are the special birds, and the rolling hills and soft estuaries of the east where internationally important numbers of wader and wildfowl winter. Inverness-shire holds a little bit of everything with an impressive list of exciting birds including Slavonian Grebe, Capercaillie, Ptarmigan, Osprey, Dotterel, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill and Snow Bunting.