Walk: Ord Hill - by the bridge to the Black Isle

Highland | Black Isle | Short walk | ★★★

[Kessock Bridge from Ord Hill]

This forested summit at the north end of the Kessock Bridge is one of the closest hills to Inverness. The start of the walk in a messy car park next to a dual carriageway is the low point in more ways than one, but things soon improve with height, with excellent views of the bridge and capital of the Highlands from a few spots where the trees thin out. At the top of the hill is an Iron Age hill fort, while a more modern trig point is relegated to a spot further downhill. The return route begins with a very steep descent, but leads to an easy track with further good views over the Moray Firth to Nairnshire. Keep an eye out for red squirrels!

[Summit cairn]

đź“Ś Walk: By the bridge to the Black Isle ★★★
Start / finish at far east end of car park on north side of the A9 at North Kessock (access from eastbound side only), G.R.: NH 654481 ///nooks.olive.patch

▶ 4 km / 2 mi | ▲ 200 m | ⌚ Short | ⬤ Moderate
Features: Bridge viewpoints; △ Ord Hill (191 m) & fort
Terrain: Narrow paths and some track sections. Navigation is a little confusing on ascent due to the sheer number of paths - the main routes omit the trig point. Descent from the summit is steep and slippery.

Route & map

Car park - bridge viewpoint - Ord Hill triangulation pillar - Ord Hill true summit / fort - descend northeast to track - track around southeast side of hill - rejoin outward route - start


Route credit: Scotland Off the Beaten Track
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On our visit

Wildlife: 3 or 4 red squirrels.
Weather: Cloudy with a some sunny intervals, light wind, temperature in mid teens.

Chronological photo guide

[Forest path]

[View over Inverness from the ascent]

[Bridge viewpoint]

[Kessock Bridge]

[Trig pillar]

[Speckled Wood butterfly]

[Woodland path]

[Remains of the vitrified fort]

[Summit cairn]

[Steep descent]

[Views across the Moray Firth from the return track]

[Pine cones]

[Return track]

[Kessock Bridge from the return]

[Return track]

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