Logged Visits:

6th Feb 2024  16:08  by Highland Saint

FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

1st Sep 2023  14:11  by coinea

Gridref: NH 89516 51673   FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Parked at track end at Winewells. Followed marked tracks to firebreak and followed small track to south of pillar. After that, poor route choice meant I had another gorse fight to get to pillar,

S7300 Castle Finlay

22nd Sep 2022  10:22  by A1Mushroom

FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Parked at the forest track entrance Regoul side of the forest, NH883510. Followed the forest tracks to the end of them, Rounded the hill making towards the trees where the trig is. Don't try and go in a straight line to the trig from the end of the track because of the wins.

20th May 2022  00:00  by caroleengel

Gridref: NH 89518 51678   FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

From good parking at Winewell to ENE. There are numerous MTB trails through the open wood - easy. Once at the mapped crossing track, take mapped firebreak (NH 89798 51517) through clear-fell (now re-planted but trees only about 2m high) - not obvious at first (in summer - narrow band bracken). Much easier once on it than a direct slog. Brings you to spot 169 and fence at NH 8964 5172. Then direct to trig - sparse young trees, broom and tussocks. Very easy going compared to the gorse infested south side.

19th Dec 2021  14:15  by EmmaMcBride1

FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Attempted from Regoul but decided against it due to logging so we came up from Winewell instead. Easy route up to the end of the track where we noticed a minor track heading north. From here we made our way over to a group of lone trees on the remains of the ancient castle Finlay. A few stabbies to negotiate but nothing major. Trees look very different in practice compared to maps due to felling. No view. Pillar beginning to break up at one top corner but otherwise good condition with cement plug.

Pillar amongst stabbies ©EmmaMcBride1

10th Sep 2021  15:49  by Ilovetrigs

FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Flush bracket ©Ilovetrigs
Trig point and husband©Ilovetrigs

2nd Jun 2020  10:50  by nozzer

Gridref: NH 89517 51686   FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

5th Jan 2020  13:25  by David Bremner

FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

I parked up at the entrance of the forestry track opposite Winewells and after a hundred yards or so took the mountain bike trail off to the left. This made for a shortcut with steady ascent on good terrain (thankfully no bikers!) meeting up with the forest track again. I followed this until it ended. I then struck W over felled forest when I should have gone NW. This caused a bit of extra work but I then found the pillar amongst the few remaining trees. Pillar in good condition with FB and cement plug. There is some damage to one top corner. Returning I found a trace of the staked path mentioned by past visitors. This picked the track up and I returned the same way. Not much views from the trig but some nice views on the walk.

18th Feb 2017  11:06  by [email protected]

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Good track most of the way. Lots of logging going on. Large area cleared, point in the few trees which are left. Wonderful views down over the firth

15th Feb 2016  15:00  by tummelv

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Found whilst geocaching. Good path most of the way and then a straight line through dense tree cover for the final 100m or so. Pillar in good condition.

Pillar ©tummelv
Top ©tummelv

15th Feb 2016  00:00  by billygunn

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Found whilst Geocaching.

12th Apr 2015  17:20  by RichardM

Gridref: NH 89518 51679   FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

From gated forest track starting near Winewell, follow either the forest track or better, the woodland path (mountain bike track) on LHS 130m past the gate to gain the upper hillside. Reaching the upper hillside cross area of clear-fell to the west edge where a fire break enters trees, not far up this a staked path leads through forest to a small open area with vitrified Iron Age fort topped by the trig point. No views and the fort relies on a lot of imagination but a pleasant secluded area non the less.

10th Sep 2014  18:54  by Aqueously90

Gridref: NH 89513 51686   FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 4/10

Log #37. Came from the east on my first attempt. Managed to drive right to the end of the forestry track, but logging was taking place and I was politely asked to vacate the premises. I didn't really want to leave empty handed, so drove round to Regoul and came in from the west instead. It's a fairly simple walk up to the trig, although the last 90-100m is through a very dense and dark forest. Couldn't see the sign for the second broch, but the midges had started to descend and I didn't linger at the trig very long. No view at all. [ExP-37/MiP-0/BM-0]

FB ©Aqueously90
Plugged cap. ©Aqueously90
What a view(!) ©Aqueously90

20th Jul 2014  09:57  by BigJ

Gridref: NH 89519 51695   FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 3/10

Parked at NH 90609 51952 and followed track up hill. Lots of forestry work underway. At end of track took bearing to trig. Last bit through thick forest. No view.

23rd Feb 2014  15:23  by nozzer

Gridref: NH 89521 51681   FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Found on 2nd visit :-)

23rd Feb 2014  15:23  by Downfaller

Gridref: NH 89521 51681   FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

23rd Jan 2014  19:27  by hhew444

FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

28th Dec 2013  12:49  by gerryu2

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Great walk up to the top and some interesting historical info.

Geodog

28th Dec 2013  12:18  by thejackrustles

FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

We decide to take the creaky trees path and trusted the compass for the last bit firstly following the fence line then the clearing through the trees Trig comes out of nowhere in a lovely spot

Mr TJR and Charlie at the trigpoint ©thejackrustles

1st Oct 2012  09:51  by wrose

Gridref: NH 89519 51680   FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

I parked at the road/track junction to the south-west. Then used the track as far as it went after which it was every man for himself as I battled though the trees to eventually arrive at the pillar itself. It is still in good condition although it has lost its original plug with the resultant hole having been filled by a tarmac compound. The only views are trees, trees, trees and a bit of gorse.

S7300 Castle Finlay Pillar.
S7300 Castle Finlay Flush Bracket.
S7300 Castle Finlay Plug.

14th Nov 2009  11:15  by bowlesy

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

14th Nov 2009  11:15  by dal

FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Approached from Regoul. Track as far as first fort good - well used. Thereafter the track quickly turned into a mix of broom and gorse, with progress difficult. Trig in a bit of a clearing on the second fort to the north of the supposed track. Both forts have information boards. Difficult to imagine many folk read the second. Visited with bowlesy.

21st Jun 2006  13:00  by spidym

FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Nice easy walk up, following path most of way, then cutting off through forest and straight up. Watch out for large fence.

Further away shot

11th Apr 2006  12:00  by peregrinus

FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

vgc, mortar plug, by large tree in clearing in plantation, a nice summit in its way. No view. Staked path approaches from S, no idea where it starts

12th Jan 2005  12:00  by iainmac

FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 2/10

I, also, dont expect to return to this one but I obviously didnt have as bad an experience finding it as GRP. Top is an old fort and theres even a board giving details.

S7300
S7300
S7300

7th Sep 2004  14:34  by clochandighter

Gridref: NH 89518 51654   FB Number: S7300  Condition: Good  Score: 4/10

Pillar completed 14th July 1953. Tertiary station in Block NJ06, Nairn. Pillar in very good order. Spider is plugged with light hollow sounding cement. Flush bracket faces WNW. RHS sighting hole open, others plugged. Not as glamourous as it looks on the maps. Arrived at the trig wiping cobwebs from my face. Located in the Castle Finlay Estate, just outside FC woodland. No view whatsoever. Pillar proved difficult to find as it is not on the highest summit, the area is largely overgrown with gorse, the surrounding woodlands are dense, and GPS reception is poor. Access is not easy, felled trees, branches and lichen covered rocks throughout woods. To add insult to injury, the fence dividing the estate land from the FC land has three courses or barb on top, all above head height to negotiate along with the undergrowth. Apart from the trig pillar, there is nothing else worth going up there for. First and last visit, and photographs 7/09/2004, GRP.

S7300 - Castle Finlay pillar & FB