The best walks and hikes around Killearnan

Yes, the Black Isle is a great place to walk with your dog. The woodlands and coastal paths offer plenty of space. Trails through areas like Gallowhill Wood near Redcastle are particularly suitable. As always, please keep your dog under control, especially near farmland and during bird nesting season.

The region has many gentle walks perfect for families. A great option is the Redcastle Ruin loop from Mulbuie. It's a relatively flat trail through woodland leading to the picturesque castle ruins, which can be exciting for children to explore.

For panoramic views, the trails on Ord Hill are excellent. A rewarding route is the Ord Hill Summit Cairn loop from North Kessock. From the top, you get spectacular vistas over the Beauly Firth, the Kessock Bridge, and towards Inverness. The path winds through a mix of rich, mossy forest.

Most of the popular trails in the area are loops, allowing you to start and finish in the same place without retracing your steps. For a longer day out, the Ord Hill loop from Munlochy is a challenging circular hike that explores a wider section of the Black Isle.

Parking is generally available at the start of popular routes. For walks around Ord Hill, there are car parks near North Kessock. For Redcastle, you can find parking in the nearby village of Charleston. It's always a good idea to arrive early on weekends as these spots can fill up.

The trails are highly regarded by the komoot community, with thousands of visitors sharing their experiences. Reviewers often praise the stunning coastal scenery along the Beauly Firth and the peaceful atmosphere of the woodland paths.

Yes, the area is rich in history. Besides the well-known Redcastle ruin, you can explore ancient history on Ord Hill, where the summit is crowned by the remains of an Iron Age hillfort. Exploring these sites adds a fascinating dimension to your hike.

Yes, some trailheads are accessible via public transport. Bus services from Inverness run to villages on the Black Isle like North Kessock and Munlochy, which serve as starting points for walks up Ord Hill. It's best to check the latest bus timetables for services to the Black Isle before you travel.

While Killearnan's immediate landscape is more about coast and woodland, a short drive towards Glen Affric will bring you to Dog Falls. This is a popular spot with well-marked trails of varying lengths that take you through beautiful pinewoods to see the impressive rapids.

The Black Isle has extensive woodlands with a network of trails. You can explore the rich, mossy forests on Ord Hill, the peaceful Gallowhill Wood near Redcastle, or the larger Millbuie Forest which covers the spine of the peninsula. These forests are great for spotting wildlife like red squirrels and various woodland birds.

For a very easy and flat walk, the Inverness Cathedral – River Ness loop from South Kessock is a great choice. It follows the banks of the River Ness in the nearby city of Inverness, offering a pleasant urban walk with lovely views of the river and city landmarks.