Fyrish Monument

The walk to Fyrish Monument climbs through pleasant forest to a bizarre and striking folly on the summit of Cnoc Fyrish — a full-scale replica of the Gates of Negapatam, an Indian port captured by local laird Sir Hector Munro in 1781, built by famine-relief labour during the Highland Clearances.

The route starts from a small car park on the minor road to Boath, where the signposted "Jubilee Path" begins through a gate. The path undulates gently through forest, crossing a forestry track before descending a flight of stone steps to a footbridge over a burn, then climbing back up through the trees on the far side. As the path climbs clear of the tree line, fabulous views open back towards Alness and the Cromarty Firth, with a small lochan passed near a crossroads where an alternative return route is signed off to the left.

The path continues across open moorland to the monument itself — a striking, if slightly absurd, arched folly whose construction gave paid work to the local destitute population during a period when famine relief was only offered in exchange for labour. Local legend holds that Sir Hector Munro would order the carried stones rolled back down the hill, extending the men's employment. The views from here are tremendous, with the whole sweep of the Cromarty Firth spread out below, the North Sea visible to the east, and the great bulky form of Ben Wyvis rising inland.

Most walkers retrace their steps to the car park, though a variant route from the crossroads near the lochan offers a slightly different return; those with extra time can continue over the top of the hill to find three smaller, lesser-known monuments, adding a further two hours to the outing.

This is a straightforward, well-maintained path suitable for most walkers, with only moderate ascent throughout.

Parking at the Fyrish car park is free; bus and train services run to Alness, though starting from there adds an extra two kilometres to the walk in each direction.