The Jubilee Path to the Fyrish Monument

Distance: 6.9 km (4.3 miles)
Time: About 2 hours 15 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate

Just beyond the Black Isle, near Evanton. A gentle climb through pine woods and out onto open moorland brings you to the Fyrish Monument on Cnoc Fyrish, with fine views over the Cromarty Firth.

The monument was built in 1782 for Sir Hector Munro of Novar, a general who had served in India, to give work to local people as they were being cleared from their land. It represents the gate of Negapatam, a port in Madras that Munro took in 1781.

A short diversion on the way down turns the walk into a circuit and spends longer on the open moor. Look out for the lochan beside the path, and for bilberries near the car park.

Route, GPS track and photographs: Julian Paren on Geograph.

Along the way

Photos and notes from the photographer’s trip on Geograph, numbered in walking order. Select a photo or number to find the spot on the map.

At the start of the Jubilee Walk up Cnoc Fyrish
The first section is relatively flat with bilberry plants aplenty beside the path.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
Pools beside the Fyrish Monument
Bog cotton surrounds the pools on the summit of Cnoc Fyrish. The Cromarty Firth extends behind the monument.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
Fyrish Monument
The Fyrish Monument is a monument built in 1782 on the orders of Sir Hector Munro, 8th of Novar, a native lord of the area who had served in India as a general. As the local population were being cleared off their land, employment was a problem and so it was built to give the locals some work. It was said that Sir Hector rolled stones from the top of the hill to the bottom, thereby extending the amount of time worked and paying the labourers for additional hours. It represents the Gate of Negapatam, a port in Madras, India, which General Munro took for the British in 1781.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
Fyrish Monument
The Fyrish Monument is a monument built in 1782 on the orders of Sir Hector Munro, 8th of Novar, a native lord of the area who had served in India as a general. As the local population were being cleared off their land, employment was a problem and so it was built to give the locals some work. It was said that Sir Hector rolled stones from the top of the hill to the bottom, thereby extending the amount of time worked and paying the labourers for additional hours. It represents the Gate of Negapatam, a port in Madras, India, which General Munro took for the British in 1781.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
Lochan on the side of Cnoc Fyrish
A good place to stop on both the ascent and descent of Cnoc Fyrish.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
Returning to the Cnoc Fyrish car park by the "Alternative Route"
A less well used track provides a small detour to the normal linear route up the hill, and traverses more open ground than the usual path. It is worth it for a change of impression of this woodland.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
On the alternative route back from Cnoc Fyrish
A useful deviation from the normal out-and-back linear route.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0
Bilberry bushes beside the Cnoc Fyrish path
A return in the fruiting season surely beckons.
Photo © Julian Paren, CC BY-SA 2.0