There are many local walks some of which are detailed in your Black Isle Pathway guide. These guides can be found at Fortrose post office.
There are also trails and paths from your doorstep of your highland holiday cottage, some enjoying stunning views over the firth and others over carpets of heather and through a glade of new Pine trees.
Look out for wild primulas in abundance during Springtime and a back drop of snow capped mountains. It's a bird spotters paradise with with the rare red kites and oyster catchers but it's lovely to see the more common birds too, in Spring there are many wag tails and yellow hammers on the lawn and birds nests dotted around - the most unusual nesting place so far being in the lid of the calor gas tank!
Don't be surprised to see a roe deer cross your path and look out for the many dragonflies and butterflies in Summer months. Deer, otters, seals, buzzards, red kites, cormorants, ospreys and flocks of wild geese are just a few examples of local bird and wild life.
There are two RSPB reserves within a short drive from Hillockhead, one situated at Munlochy Bay and the other at in Jemimaville, near Cromarty. Further afield is the Abernethy forest reserve (about 50 miles south of the Black Isle) where ospreys, crested tits and capercaillie can be seen (and red squirrels too!).
The surroundings are ever changing whether it is a winter wonderland scene, an unforgettable November sunrise, a blaze of yellow gorse in Spring or spectacular Autumn colours. The Black Isle is known for it's sunny climate so despite the changeable British summer we get alot of sunshine and long summer evenings when it hardly seems to go dark at all.
Visitors can be forgiven for believing they have stepped back into time and will find this beautiful beach deserted apart from the occasional dolphin or seal!
Warning: the walk down to the beach is beautiful but strenuous and quite steep.
Visit the fossil beach on Eathie Rd where the famous geologist Hugh Miller found many of his rare and Jurassic fossils. You may be lucky enough to find pebbles containing fossilized ammonites like the one above, washed along from the nearby Eathie fossil beds.
Walk through the enchanting Fairy Glen and greet the fairies as tradition dictates. A fast-flowing stream runs through the glen with two waterfalls at the upstream end. A typical range of woodland and stream birds are present, including dippers and Grey wagtails. The local ranger and the RSPB run events in fairy glen, from family fun days to guided walks.
Glen Affric is a very special place. It contains one of the largest ancient Caledonian pinewoods in Scotland as well as lochs, moorland and mountains. This wide range of habitats make Glen Affric a haven for wildlife. There are many rare and special birds, animals and plants found here. Amongst many others look out for deer, Scottish crossbills, crested tits and if you're very lucky, pine marten.
Glen Affric is 5 miles west of Cannich on the Glen Affric road, off the A831
