Walking the Speyside Way

Walking information

Walks on this holiday are on village streets, country lanes, farm tracks and rural paths. Walking boots are essential. Walking poles are recommended.

Day 1: Arrival in Buckie

Spend a relaxing evening at your hotel in Buckie, a small fishing village on the banks of the Moray Firth, the starting point for the Speyside Way. Your hotel tonight is the Kintrae House (or similar).
Breakfast included.

Day 2: Buckie to Fochabers 16 km/10mi

Start your journey in the centre of Buckie, follow the signs through the village to reach the shore of the Moray Firth keeping an eye out for the grey and common seals that can occasionally be seen here. The track leads on to the Spey Bay Hotel and its former icehouse, which is now the Scottish Dolphin Wildlife Centre where bottlenose dolphins are studied. Continuing alongside the Alder woodland of the river mouth, you will eventually come to the river Spey keeping straight on the path until you reach Fochabers, for your overnight stay at the Gordon Arms (or similar).
Breakfast included.

Day 3: Fochabers to Craigellachie 21 km/13mi

This morning you will leave Fochabers and re-join the Speyside Way, with today's walk providing a varied terrain of tarred road, woodland paths and forestry tracks. After a sharp descent and then a switch-back climb, the path then levels off through woods to reach Boat o' Brig, giving striking views over the Spey Valley. Continuing through farmland and forest, you will soon be able to see Arndilly House, built in 1770 and once the home of the chief of Clan Menzies, before arriving in Craigellachie, but perhaps stopping at the Macallan Distillery before arriving at your hotel for the evening. The Macallan Estate is one of the many whiskey distilleries along the River Spey and is open for visitors on specific days of the week. Stay the night at Bridge View (or similar).
Breakfast included.

Day 4: Craigellachie to Ballindalloch 19 km/12mi

Today's route is an easy trail, starting out along the River Spey where many fishermen can be seen hoping for a catch, and then following an old derelict railway line towards Aberlour. The town has many lovely shops and a good number of eateries for you to stop and have a break before continuing along the railway. Continue to reach woodland, passing the Dailuaine Distillery Treatment Plant, one of the oldest in Speyside, before the Bridge of Carron with exceptional views of the river. Further along the track you will arrive at Knockando (House) Distillery and just further on the Tamdhu Distillery before the route meanders through beautiful birch woods and fields, eventually reaching Ballindalloch, known for its castle and of course, its distillery! The hotel for your stay tonight is the Delnashaugh Hotel (or similar).
Breakfast included.

Day 5: Ballindalloch to Grantown-on-Spey 21 km/13mi

Probably the most challenging walk along the route, you will depart Ballindalloch this morning, and continue the old railway line past Cragganmore Distillery. With ravishing views to Ben Rinnes, the route follows along through birch woods, with plenty of ascents and descents, onto more open boggy ground, with the occasional stepping stone to help you along. Climb up the grassy path then descend steeply to meet a harder-surfaced track heading into the Woods of Knockfrink, with good views over Strathspey, and then entering the Cairngorms National Park. Continue to re-join the old railway line for a time, the route leads to Meiklepark Wood, past the former Cromdale Station, built in 1863 and now a private rental holiday home, and Cromdale Old Kirk with its gorgeous location on the river Spey. After enjoying the beauty of the beautiful native Scots pine Anagach Woods, home to rare capercaillie birds, you will arrive at Grantown on Spey, your next rest stop the Willowbank Guest House (or similar).
Breakfast included.

Day 6: Grantown-on-Spey to Aviemore 28 km/17mi

Your final day begins with a gentle walk, again along the old railway line as far as Nethy Bridge, then along the route of an old military road towards the nature reserve woodland at Abernethy. It is worth a detour to visit the RSPB Osprey Centre at nearby Loch Garten, as you may also be lucky to see the elusive capercaillie, a crested tit or one of the many other species of birds who live here. Next you will come to the Boat of Garten, also known as the Osprey Village, and as you walk to more open ground, the Cairngorms come into view beside the track of the steam railway which runs regular trains between Aviemore and Broomhill. A trip on the Strathspey Railway can easily be fitted into your day. Across beautiful heather heathland, you will follow the signs for Kinchurdy, passing a golf course close with breath taking scenery of the Cairngorms behind. Cross the bridge and follow the sign for Aviemore Centre, where your journey on the Speyside Way comes to its conclusion. Enjoy a well-deserved break at your Aviemore hotel the Eriskay Guesthouse (or similar),
Breakfast included.

Day 7: Leave Aviemore

Depart your hotel to begin your journey home or add on a few extra days to make the most of the many activities and attractions of Aviemore.