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This guidebook describes the Speyside Way, one of Scotland's Great Trails that follows the River Spey for 66 mile (106 km) through northern Scotland from Aviemore to the old port of Buckie on the Moray coast. Featuring easy walking on good paths and along disused railway lines, the route can be comfortably completed in a week and is presented in 10 stages of between 2 and 13 miles (3-21 km).
The guide also details the recently opened 6½-mile (10.5 km) extension to the Speyside Way between Kincraig and Aviemore as well as two alternatives to the main route and routes to the source of the Spey. Also featured are three other trails in the same region which can be combined with the Speyside Way to form a longer trek: the 25 mile (40 km) Dava Way, 47 mile (76 km) Moray Coast Trail and 12½ mile (20 km) Badenoch Way.
Alongside detailed route description, the guide includes background information, local points of interest (including a list of distilleries!), tips on transport and accommodation and recommendations for mountain-bikers and riders, who can follow stretches of the route. A handy booklet containing all the OS 1:25,000 Explorer mapping needed to complete the Speyside Way is located in the back cover sleeve.
The Spey is Scotland's third longest river, famed for its salmon and its distilleries. Rising in the Monadhliath Mountains, it flows through remote glens to the Highland resort of Aviemore, surrounded by the wild Cairngorms. From there, the Speyside Way follows the river's course through the countryside, forests and small towns of Strathspey and Moray to reach its mouth on the Moray Firth and the unique shingle systems at Spey Bay.
INTRODUCTION
- The official trails of Speyside and Moray
- The routes in this guidebook
- The River Spey
- When to walk
- Which direction to walk
- Suggested longer routes
- Suggested day walks
- Mountain biking and horse riding
- Getting there
- Public transport
- Accommodation
- Campsites and wild camping
- Refreshments
- Tourist information
- What to take
- Maps
- Navigation and waymarking
- Walking in Scotland
- Using this guide
THE SPEYSIDE WAY – SOURCE TO SEA
PROLOGUE
BADENOCH WAY AND LINKS
SPEYSIDE WAY
- Stage 1 Aviemore to Boat of Garten
- Stage 2 Boat of Garten to Nethy Bridge
- Stage 3 Nethy Bridge to Grantown-on-Spey
- Stage 4 Grantown-on-Spey to Cromdale
- Stage 5 Cromdale to Ballindalloch station
- Stage 6 Ballindalloch station to Aberlour
- Stage 7 Aberlour to Craigellachie
- Stage 8 Craigellachie to Fochabers
- Stage 9 Fochabers to Spey Bay
- Stage 10 Spey Bay to Buckie
TOMINTOUL SPUR
DUFFTOWN LOOP
DAVA WAY
MORAY COAST TRAIL
APPENDIX A Route summary table
APPENDIX B Useful contacts
APPENDIX C Further reading
APPENDIX D Whisky production and Speyside distilleries
Alan Castle has trekked and cycled in over 30 countries within Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa and Australasia. A member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild, he has written 18 guidebooks, several on long-distance mountain routes in France. An erstwhile national secretary and long-distance path information officer of the Long Distance Walkers Association, Alan now lives at the foot of the Moffat Hills in Scotland.
