Speyside Way

Arrive in Buckie and spend the evening at the coast. Once a thriving fishing and shipbuilding port, today Buckie is a small fishing town on the Moray coast with great scenery and wildlife.

Beginning at Buckpool Harbour, the Speyside Way follows easy paths along the dramatic coastline of the Moray Firth. From Spey Bay it continues along riverside paths and tracks to Fochabers. At the end of your day’s walk pay a visit to Baxters Highland Village to sample their world famous soups and produce – it’s a great way to end the day.

From Fochabers you follow the east bank of the river, joining a quiet road high above the Spey. As the Way follows forest tracks along the side of Ben Aigan there are wonderful views across the Spey valley before descending into the attractive village of Craigellachie.

Visit the Macallan Distillery or extend your route to follow the 4 mile ‘Dufftown Spur’ to this charming little town and the malt whisky capital of the world.

Your Speyside Way walk continues its journey south with easy walking through a wooded valley and along the riverside and farmland. It passes through the villages of Aberlour, Carron and Knockando before arriving into Ballindalloch, a small village surrounded by majestic hills and just a scattering of houses.

Here you’ll find Ballindalloch Castle, one of the most beautiful castles in Scotland, known as the ‘pearl of the north’. A visit to the Castle and its gardens will be a real highlight of your walking holiday.

This section will provide you with a wonderful taste of walking in wild, isolated countryside and for many this is the most memorable part of the route. You’ll follow a track over the west shoulder of Ben Rinnes, commanding wonderful views before descending to the famous Glenlivet Distillery.

Enjoy a guided tour and a dram of this world famous single malt before climbing to Carn Diamh, which at 1870ft is the highest point on the route, before descending into Tomintoul, the highest village in the Highlands.

After being transferred back to Ballindalloch, the Way continues past Cragganmore Distillery, crossing farmland and following foresty tracks on its way to Cromdale. The route then follows a meandering track through superb pine woods emerging eventually on the outskirts of Grantown-on-Spey.

On the next leg of your Speyside Way walk you’ll enjoy easy walking amongst the farms, woods and moorland of Strathspey. The route takes you past the Spey Valley Smokehouse and follows a track heading directly for the village of Nethybridge. It crosses the Abernethy Nature Reserve to the village of Boat of Garten.

En route you may wish to take a side trip to Loch Garten, a delightful spot in the depths of Abernethy Forest and where you can visit the RSPB Nature Reserve and Osprey Centre. From Boat of Garten, it is only 6 miles to Aviemore across wonderful heather moorland beside the Strathspey Steam Railway line.

This extension of the Speyside Way was launched in 2015. From Aviemore, you’ll shadow the railway line before passing through idyllic natural birchwoods on the Kinrara Estate. Peaceful walking will be interspersed with glimpses of the dramatic Cairngorm mountains beyond.

The final day of your Speyside Way walk starts by passing through Inshriach Forest. You’ll enjoy lovely views of the picturesque Uath Lochans and the Insh Marshes and Monadliath Mountains. Amid tranquil birch woodlands and impressive Scots pines, you’ll soon reach Kingussie and continue along to your destination of Newtonmore.

After breakfast, you will start your journey home after a wonderful walking holiday on the Speyside Way.