Craig Phadrig Hill Fort Walk

The Craig Phadrig Hill Fort Walk climbs through pleasant forest on the western edge of Inverness to the site of an impressive Iron Age vitrified fort, reputedly where St Columba met the Pictish King Bridei around 565 AD, with fine views over the Beauly Firth as reward.

The route starts from a car park on Leachkin Brae, reached via Leachkin Road off the A862. The path from the far end of the car park winds pleasantly through forest, forking right downhill before levelling off and climbing again; keeping right at successive junctions marked with yellow and blue waymarkers leads steadily up towards the summit. A left turn onto a steep path climbs the final stretch up to the fort itself, dating from around 300 BC and later re-occupied by the Picts — the ramparts, an oval-shaped earthwork mound some 245 by 75 feet, were destroyed by an intense fire that fused the stone walls together in a process known as vitrification, still visible today as the site is walked around its perimeter.

Following the path around the left-hand rim of the fort gives the finest views, out over the Beauly Firth towards Ben Wyvis, though the outlook over Inverness itself is largely screened by trees. A steep path descends from the far end of the fort back down through the woods, rejoining the lower path; turning left at the next junction leads past newly built houses with sensational views before a final path returns to the car park.

This is a short, well-signposted walk suitable for most fitness levels, though the direct route to the fort itself involves steep slopes and uneven ground and is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs — a gentler, longer yellow-marked loop around the base of the hill offers a buggy-friendly alternative for those wanting to skip the climb to the fort.

Parking at Craig Phadrig is free; there is no direct public transport, though the walk is within reasonable walking distance of central Inverness.