📌 Black Isle, Highland
★★★
🛠️ Footbridge at 0.5 km mark currently closed – use the north bank path for this section (checked July 2025)
Beyond the beautifully-kept cottages at the northern end of Rosemarkie, another magical chapter unfolds on the beautiful Black Isle. Popular footpaths lead from here to a pair of waterfalls in wooded surroundings: not remarkable for their height but overflowing in charm, no matter the water level. As for the fairies: they were once believed to keep the burn clean for villagers to use for drinking and washing. Fairy Glen is also an RSPB nature reserve and a good place to watch dippers foraging underwater; for a longer route, check out our Rosemarkie country and coast circuit.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on the A832 at north end of Rosemarkie
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NH 735578
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.592558,-4.117501
🚌 Bus stops at car park
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 3 km / 2 mi | ▲ 110 m | ⌛ 1 hr
Features: 🦆 RSPB Fairy Glen; 🌊 Fairy Glen waterfalls ★★★
⬤ Easy | Generally good path through wooded glen; some muddy or rougher sections and steps.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit with extension to waterfalls: start – mill pond – lower waterfall – upper waterfall – return by outward route, but remain on north bank to Kincurdy Drive – main road to start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Tits, other small birds.* Dippers, wagtails and other birds.**
Weather: Mainly cloudy, 17°C.* Mostly sunny, but shaded and cool in the forest.**
*July 2020 / **September 2012
Also on this walk
Fairy Glen waterfalls ★★★
🌍 Location
📌 Fairy Glen, 1 mi northwest of Rosemarkie. Upper falls are at:
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NH 726586
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.599526,-4.132855
🚌🚗 Public transport & parking as for walk route above
📝 Key info
⌚ Always open
🎫 Free
💬 From the car park it’s a 20-min walk (each way) to the lower falls, following the start of the walk route above, with the upper falls a short distance beyond (⬤ Easy).
