Little Wyvis from Silverbridge

Black Water Falls by Silverbridge

North of Inverness, the A835 travels from Tore on the A9 to Ullapool. Just north of Garve and east of the junction with the A832, the A835 swings northwards and at this point, just before the bridge over the Alltan Dubh (or Black Water River) there is a car-park (signposted with toilets).

By the car-park there is an information board giving some history on the area surrounding Silverbridge and nearby on the opposite side of the road is Little Garve with some lovely low-level woodland walks.

Heading up Little Wyvis, view to Fannichs and An Teallach

From the car-park cross the Alltan Dubh via the old bridge, then cross the A835 to the entrance of Strathgarve Estate. A couple of sign posts indicate the start of hillwalking routes

From the roadside walk up the tarred road and turn left at the first opening. This leads through a gate, onto an estate track and around a large farm storage shed. A few metres further on, its through another gate to pass an old static caravan and some knackered sheds, from where the track swings around and comes to a tired cattle grid .

Over the cattle grid (or around as a sign suggests), you'll come to a junction in the tracks - if there is a lot of livestock around, then take the track off left heading towards a gate in a deer fence. Once through the gate, you should be away from the livestock and on a grass-covered track.

Head up the soft track to meet up with another, more firm, track - turn right and head to some forestry behind which is a cattle shed. You'll meet up again with the track you left by the cattle grid which continues uphill.

Twisting and turning, the track comes to an old and heavy gate by some woodland - through the gate, turn left and after around 300m come to yet another gate . Through this gate, turn left again, it's now onto open hillside and the track becomes rougher.

The track goes around some forestry and, as the gradient steepens, it begins to twist and turn. You'll come to a junction at around the 500m contour, bear right and continue uphill. Several zigs and zags lead up the western shoulder of Little Wyvis.

Ben Wyvis from the summit of Little Wyvis

Ben Wyvis from the summit of Little Wyvis

Descending Little Wyvis, view to Strathconon

The easiest return route is to simply re-trace your steps back down the estate track.

Alternatively, as I did on my most recent visit, follow the ruts of ATV tracks and occasional fence-posts north-eastwards along Little Wyvis's summit crest to drop down to a track just west of the minor summit of Tom na Caillich. This track leads back to the forestry above the top gate, on the way giving some good views to Strathconon.