The Old Manse and Bona Church are perfectly placed to visit to all corners of the Highlands. Each direction can be reached in just a few hours to really explore this beautiful region.
We have put together a local guides from walks and shopping to restaurants and bars. In this edition we ask…
Where Are The Best Local Walks?
Discover the Pictish Fort
Craig Phadrig
where St Columba is said to have walked
First and foremost is the hill behind The Old Manse!
A firm favourite of Highland Escape’s founder, Matthew. He is regularly seen taking a brisk walk to the top for the stunning views encompassing The Old Manse, Loch Ness, Aldourie Castle and right over to the south side of Loch Ness.
Approximately 3 hours to the top, expect to see waterfalls along the way and plenty of beautiful wild flowers and scenery. Certainly a great way to take in the view from our doorstep.
If you are looking for something shorter but just as enjoyable, then read on…
Just a ten minute drive from The Old Manse and Bona Church, this wonderful fort looks like a pretty simple circuit, but there is more than meets the eye…
Colour coded pillars direct you around two simple, central routes.
However, look a little closer and you will see unassuming paths that lead off from the main circuit. Take one of these and you get a much broader and varied walking experience. All paths loop around into each other, so as long as you keep a sense of general direction (i.e. Which direction you parked the car), you will always circuit back around.
If you decide to take the colour coded main routes, take a look out over Beauly Firth and Ben Wyvis from the top of the fort. The view from there is spectacular!
Keep your eyes open for the very rare Red Squirrel. Only found in the Highlands and some parts of Wales!
Drive towards Inverness and take the first exit at the first roundabout you come to. When you arrive at a set of traffic lights turn left. Follow that road until you see a sign for Craig Phadrig.
Fantastic circular walk
ORD HILL
with views over Inverness and Moray Firth
Some folk say this is the best viewpoint in Inverness.
Trails wander through open, mixed forest, with wonderful views over the Moray and Beauly Firths and the sunsets can be truly spectacular.
You can find the tumbled remains of an Iron Age hill fort here too. People living here would have been the nearest neighbours to the fort on Craig Phadrig, just across the Beauly Firth.
A great walk of around an hour following the coloured posts.
