Knockfarrel – A Stone Maze, a Ridge and an Iron Age Fort
A few hours.
The route
Knockfarrel is Strathpeffer's own hill, a long grassy ridge with an Iron Age fort on its crest and the whole of the Cromarty Firth laid out below it.
The way up from the old spa village is a gentle one, through the birch woods of Blackmuir and past the Touchstone Maze, a spiral of standing stones from all over the north of Scotland. It suits anyone fit for a couple of hours on good paths, with lunch in the village square after.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Walk-ins are welcome; booking is advised at busy times.
The day
Knockfarrel
It's a morning on a small hill with a big view, west of Dingwall. Up through the woods and the stone maze to the ridge and its old fort, then down for lunch in Strathpeffer's square.
About three and a half hoursAbout 4.5 miles on foot
Black Muir Woods and the Touchstone Maze
An attraction
The free Forestry and Land Scotland car park for Blackmuir Wood is at the south end of Strathpeffer, beside an old curling pond. From it the Touchstone Maze Trail climbs on firm gravel through birch woods, with long, steady slopes, to the maze itself. It's a labyrinth of more than 80 standing stones, each a different rock from the north of Scotland, among them Lewisian gneiss some 3,000 million years old. Walk the spiral, then carry on up to the ridge. There are no toilets at the car park: the nearest are in the middle of the village. Forest works go on here in phases until the end of 2026, so follow any diversion signs.
50 min on foot
Knockfarrel Vitrified Fort
From the maze the path climbs gently onto the ridge locals call the Cat's Back and runs east along it to Knockfarrel, 218 metres high, about 50 minutes' walk from the car park in all. On the crest are the grassy ramparts of a vitrified Iron Age fort, whose stones were fused together by fierce heat. The view is the reward: the Cromarty Firth and Dingwall to the east, Strathpeffer below, and Ben Wyvis to the north. The top is open and exposed, so bring a warm layer and turn back in low cloud or high wind. Come back the same way, about 50 minutes down to the car.
4 min by car
The Deli in the Square
Lunch
Lunch is 4 minutes' drive from the car park, down into Strathpeffer, at the Deli in the Square: a restaurant, bar and deli opposite the Pavilion. Come for Cullen skink (smoked haddock soup), fish and chips, a home-made quiche or a pizza. It opens from 9am, Monday to Saturday, and is closed on Sundays. Walk-ins are welcome, and booking on 01997 421259 is advised at busy times.
If it rains
In rain the gravel trail and the maze are fine in waterproofs, but low cloud hides the view and the ridge is exposed: walk as far as the maze, skip the top, and take a longer lunch at the Deli in the Square.
Photograph by Stewart Tonkin via Google