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Creag Phàdraig

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Walk through history and visit the home of a Pictish king

Standing guard over Inverness, the Iron Age hill fort of Creag Phàdraig was built over 2000 years ago. Centuries later it was the headquarters of a powerful Pictish king. St Columba is said to have visited the fort in 565AD to meet with the Pictish king Bridei.

Look out for the ruined walls of the fort. The rampart was destroyed by fire andthe stones fused together by the intense heat, a process known as vitrification.

Today the walls are easy to see as an oval shaped mound at the top of the hill. Imagine all the comings and goings as you explore the forest. Can you see Inverness and the Beauly Firth through the trees? Across the water was another ancient hillfort at Ord Hill. The pair would have once dominated the landscape.

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