Discover North Kessock

When looking for a hotel in North Kessock, you can use the local trails and historical connections to help guide your travel plans. Several themes come together here: Kessock Bridge, the former crossing at North Kessock Pier, the walk up Ord Hill and the North Kessock and Kilmuir circuit. Practical planning also varies: footpaths run along both sides of the bridge deck, Ord Hill has waymarked forest trails and a climb, while a coastal section of the circuit depends on the tide. You can therefore tailor your stay to whichever of these themes matters most to you.

Kessock Bridge and walking routes

The A9 Kessock Bridge has footpaths on both sides of the bridge deck and also forms part of National Cycle Network Route 1. The bridge thus connects two different routes: footpaths on the structure and a link to the cycling network. By contrast, Ord Hill and the North Kessock and Kilmuir circuit are defined by their respective walking routes and trail conditions. If you are interested in the bridge, you can consider this infrastructure as a focus in its own right alongside the walks.

The historic crossing at North Kessock Pier

North Kessock Pier was a historic crossing over the Moray Firth and the Beauly Firth to South Kessock. Its history points to an earlier connection across both firths, distinguishing it from the routes associated with Kessock Bridge. For an understanding of North Kessock, the pier is a tangible point of reference if you are interested in the area's historical role.

Walking up Ord Hill

The walk up Ord Hill follows waymarked forest tracks and paths and includes a climb. It passes the remains of a so-called “vitrified fort”—a fortification fused by fire. A viewpoint on the walk offers views of Kessock Bridge, Inverness and the Beauly Firth. When choosing a route, you can therefore weigh up the type of trail, the climb, the archaeological interest and the views. A large car park on the north side of the A9 at North Kessock is associated with the Ord Hill route.

North Kessock and Kilmuir circuit

A section of the North Kessock and Kilmuir circuit runs along rocky coastline. This section is impassable at high tide and is also slippery because of seaweed. Check the tides before planning your walk and take the slippery surface on this coastal section into account. There is a car park for the circuit off the A9 as it heads north from North Kessock.

The two walks therefore raise different planning considerations: on Ord Hill, you can weigh up the type of trail, the climb and the views; on the circuit, you need to take the tidal restriction on the coastal section into account. This lets you plan your outing according to the nature of the route and whether it is passable.

For a broader travel overview: Inverness.