Geo-Trips :: Scottish Hill Track 315, Dingwall to Strathpeffer and Garve
Easter Ross
A walk from Garve Railway Station, Tue, 12 Jun 2018 by Julian Paren
In the Scotways publication Scottish Hill Tracks, Track 315 connects Dingwall and Garve, a route of 20 km. Dingwall and Garve are one station apart on the Highland Line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh. The route can be broken into two, a Dingwall to Strathpeffer section and then Strathpeffer to Garve. In fact I had walked much of route 315 when on shorter circular walks, but had always thought the route as a simple linear walk would be rewarding.
Studying the summer rail timetable it became evident that trains were better timed to do the route in reverse. Starting at Garve from the 0955 arrival from Dingwall and then walking back, heading towards the statistically better weather as the walk progressed. Better than walking towards more uncertain weather!
Having walked the majority of the walk before, I knew that two of the best features of the countryside between Garve and Dingwall would be bypassed unless two diversions were made. The first to Loch na Crann in the Contin Forest, and second to include the vitrified hillfort of Knockfarrel, the latter being a deviation from the direct route suggested in Scottish Hill Tracks.
The walk was 22 km long and with two good breaks at Loch na Crann and on the Knock Farril ridge took just over seven hours.
The weather became better all day and the sun broke through before reaching Strathpeffer, giving a real sparkle to the walk up Knock Farril.
For those who like a slightly longer walk, a side-trip to Rogie Falls would have added an extra 1.5 km, but from past experience you would need an extra hour to enjoy all the features of Rogie Falls.
Just three people were met on the walk. A single walker heading for Silver Bridge and back having started at Strathpeffer, and two on the summit of Knock Farril, who had foregone a Shearings day trip to Ullapool on their coach holiday to get some fresh air.
Standard class single fare from Dingwall to Garve is £4.70 - 2019 price.
NOTE at NH412601 the route crosses a ford which can be problematic after heavy rain when you are unlikely to get through with dry feet if wearing walking boots. In December 2019 the river was running fast.
See Link for a winter view of the ford.
See Link for a drier March view of the ford.
On the map below, the grey line is the GPS track from this trip. Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
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Road across Strath Garve
A straight road that has the appearance of leading to an estate of some importance.
Matheson Road, Garve
A road leading to Strathgarve Lodge and Home Farm, and also providing access to... more
Farm and Lodge
Road signs on public roads are normally more explicit. The lodge is Strathgarve... more
Gate to the grounds of Strathgarve Lodge
The public are persuaded to walk around the outside of the private gardens of... more
Narrow belt of woodland by the track beside Loch Garve
Natural woodland dominated by Silver Birch backs the edge of Loch Garve.
Plantation forest in Strath Garve
What a complete contrast to the natural woodland the other side of the track!... more
Track and tree by Loch Garve
A dead Silver Birch with two types of fungi and a flower growing from its highest... more
The descent to the ford on the track by Loch Garve
A different time of year to [[[5592466]]] and a year on with the same tree wildly... more
Railway bridge by Loch Garve
No warning sign to suggest the maximum height of vehicles that could pass through.
Wall bounding the fields at Rogie
The fields contained mainly horses both sides of the forest road through Rogie.
View over the Black Water valley
A glimpse beyond the forest on each side of the forest track.
Loch na Crann
Seen on a dull day for a change, but the water lilies made up for it.
Water lilies on Loch na Crann
There was an extensive cover of lilies in bloom on the loch.
Path by the shore of Loch na Crann
The southern shore of Loch na Crann has a boat house, becoming derelict, that can... more
Track in the Contin Forest
A good track that is part of Scotway's designated hill track from Dingwall to Garve.
Dried out bog area above Loch Kinellan
Seen after a prolonged drought. Looking better in the winter when more water is... more
Kinellan Farm
So says the OS map.
New growth after clear felling
The gorse is the first coloniser and the remaining trees may be there by both... more
Stones of the Touchstone Maze
My learned Geograph colleagues remind me that this is not a maze but instead is a... more
Track to Knockfarrel
The track provides a good view over Strath Peffer.
View towards the fort of Knock Farril
The view includes the fine south facing slope of Strath Peffer with its crofts... more
West from the Knock Farril ridge
The characteristic outlines of the mountains in Strathconon dominate the view... more
East along the side of the Knock Farril ridge
Dingwall can be seen beside the Cromarty Firth.
Tree on the Knock Farril ridge
A footpath leads east along the ridge passing this tree before joining a footpath... more
Track from Knock Farril to Knockbain
One of two ways to join Knockbain to Knock Farrel uses this track.
Beinn Wyvis view from the Knockbain ridge
The track along the ridge has high banks and limited opportunity to see the more... more
Art where least expected: farm buildings at Knockbain
Brightening up the feel of the farm.
All images © Julian Paren and available under a
Creative Commons licence 
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