Hills: Cnoc Fyrish and Cnoc Ceislein
Date: Sunday 3rd April 2011
Company: Myself, Bob, Malcolm and Kasia
Time: 4 Hrs 15Mins


Following a weekend meet based at the Aultguish Inn bunkhouse, on the way home this morning we decided to ascend Cnoc Ceislein.

A quick look at the maps established a proposed route involving a traverse of Cnoc Fyrish and Cnoc Ceislein and the use of two cars.

En-route to the hill, myself and Malcolm spotted a red kite at Strathpeffer. On the way back, we were lucky enough to get an even closer siting of another red kite while driving along the A9 .

Click here to see a map of the route undertaken

We started from the Cnoc Fyrish car park taking the 2 mile-long Jubilee path to the summit of Cnoc Fyrish.

Cnoc Fyrish Car park (Jubilee Path):


The initial ascent through the trees was quite pleasant. We spotted the occasional small bird flitting between the tree tops.

Ascent of Cnoc Fyrish:


As we approached the tree-line we started to get nice views up and down the Cromarty Firth.

Cromarty Firth:


Approaching Cnoc Fyrish monument:


We stopped for a while at the monument to take some photographs. None of use knew anything about the monument so I looked it up when I got home.

From Wikipedia:
"The Fyrish Monument is a monument built in 1782 on Fyrish Hill (Cnoc Fyrish), in Fyrish near Evanton, Easter Ross, Scotland, 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 to make way for sheep, employment was a problem and so it was built to give the locals some work. It represents the Gate of Negapatam, a port in Madras, India, which General Munro took for the British in 1781. It is visible from almost anywhere in the parishes of Kiltearn and Alness."

Cnoc Fyrish monument:


Next, we headed for the Marilyn summit, Cnoc Ceislein.

Looking across to Cnoc Ceislein:


We followed a good track most of the way until reaching the high-point of the track 100m or so below the summit. As we ascended, the weather changed quite rapidly from nice to wild. Around twenty minutes later, the change reversed back from wild to nice .

Ascent of Cnoc Ceislein:


Was nice to get views of the back-end of Ben Wyvis and to reconnoitre the ascent of Meall Mor.

Glas Leathad Beag (of Ben Wyvis) and Meall Mor:


We didn't stay long at the summit before heading back down to the good track.

Kasia, myself and Bob at summit of Cnoc Ceislein:


Looking back to Cnoc Fyrish from summit of Cnoc Ceislein:


Beinn Tharsuinn:


As well as getting a clear view across to the Corbett Carn Chuinneag, we could also make out Ben Klibreck and Ben Hope further North.

Carn Chuinneag (zoomed):


The weather stayed really nice during the descent.

Looking back to Cnoc Ceislein:


Was great to have a car at both ends of the walk. Thanks to Malcolm and Kasia for driving.