📌 Alness, Highland
★★★
The Fyrish Monument is the southernmost of two manmade, hilltop sights which draw the eye when heading north from Dingwall on the A9 towards the far north. Built in 1782, the unusual arch design represents the Gate of Negapatam, India, after a victory over the Dutch there the previous year. Its construction also provided paid work for victims of the Highland Clearances, and as such is far less controversial than the other large Clearances-related monument further on Ben Bhraggie. A quarter of a millennium later you can walk up to view the monument closeup, with the Cromarty Firth laid out below and Ben Wyvis to the west, happily without having to carry heavy construction materials.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on minor road 2 mi northwest of Alness
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NH 627714
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.712126,-4.305322
❌ No public transport within 1 mi. Nearest bus stops in Firhill, Alness (1.5 mi)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 290 m | ⌛ 2-2.5 hr
Features: △ Cnoc Fyrish (453 m); 🏛️ Fyrish Monument
⬤ Moderate | Wide forest / moorland paths, steep during middle section, gravelly higher up. Main route is signposted.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – Cnoc Fyrish & Fyrish Monument – return by outward route (optional slight detour on return)
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Not much apart from usual woodland birds.
Weather: Mainly cloudy with occasional spots of rain and bursts of sun. Temperature in low teens, breezy on summit.
May 2015
