![\"Julian](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/db85\/live\/f02f1ac0-064e-11f0-a7e9-238722e31516.jpg.webp\")
Julian Paren\/Geograph<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nCampaigners say a planned new wind farm would spoil views from one of the Highlands’ best-known landmarks.<\/p>\n Fyrish Monument is a mock ruin called a folly on the summit of the hill Cnoc Fyrish, which overlooks the Cromarty Firth.<\/p>\n Renewable energy firm RWE has proposed installing up to 20 turbines on land just north west of the site.<\/p>\n Save Fyrish said the development would have an adverse visual impact.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n RWE said its Ceislein Wind Farm project, proposed east of its operational Novar 2 Wind Farm, was still at an early stage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Fyrish is popular with walkers, with the walk taking about two to three hours to complete.<\/p>\n Campaigner Sheila Campbell-Lloyd told BBC Scotland News: “Fyrish Monument is much-loved by the local community and visitors alike.<\/p>\n “When you are on the summit the views are uninterrupted for 360 degrees.<\/p>\n “RWE want to build 20 wind turbines on the land adjacent to Fyrish Monument.”<\/p>\n She added: “We are not against renewable energy – we have got six battery energy storage plants being built.”<\/p>\n RWE said it fully understood the importance of the monument to the local community and it was working with a design team to minimise the visual impact.<\/p>\n A spokesperson added: “We are currently completing the necessary environmental surveys that are feeding into the design process of the wind farm. <\/p>\n “This includes landscape and visual, noise, ecology and ornithology, as well as cultural heritage. <\/p>\n “We are committed to working with the local community to produce a final design that has been informed by the feedback received at the first public meeting, held last August.”<\/p>\n RWE said an updated plan could be available this spring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Sutherland-born landowner, Gen Sir Hector Munro of Novar, had the folly built and paid for it with prize money and pensions he earned serving with the British Army in India.<\/p>\n The monument is a line of arches and pillars constructed to resemble the fortress gates of Negatapam – a town in India and the scene of fighting between British and French forces in the 1780s.<\/p>\n According to local tradition, Munro used the folly as a way to create employment in the local area.<\/p>\n Before the building work started, the general was said to have rolled large boulders found at the summit – and ideally suit for construction – downhill.<\/p>\n It was said this was an attempt to extend the length of time of the project – and improve the workers’ opportunity to earn more money.<\/p>\n It is a category B listed structure <\/a>and was originally painted white.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat is Fyrish Monument?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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![\"Simon](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/0f95\/live\/260bbbc0-0632-11f0-9f16-1ba6f1332073.jpg.webp\")
Simon Richardson\/Geograph<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n