What is this 5-day itinerary?
Five days is the Speyside Way for strong walkers with a short week. It opens with the longest day, 23.6 mi (38 km) from the sea at Buckie over Ben Aigan, and closes with Aviemore to Newtonmore in one go. The middle three days are shorter, with the slow forest day to Grantown among them. It is not the plan for a first long walk.
Read the Speyside Way guide for the whole trail.
Will this 5-day split work for you?
- Strong walkers. Two days over 20 mi (32 km).
- Not a first long walk. Start with the 7-day.
- Book first: Ballindalloch, the fewest beds.
Fitness & effort
Built for walkers who already have several 20 mi (32 km) days behind them. Two of the five go past that mark, one at each end, and the ground between is mostly easy, so the test is stamina rather than skill. The forest above the Spey on day 3 is the slow one. If one long day in a row is your limit, the 6-day keeps the same finish and splits the start.
The 5-day route on the map
Toward Newtonmore
Buckie to Newtonmore in 5 days
Buckie to Newtonmore, upstream from the shingle of Spey Bay through whisky country and the Strathspey pinewoods to the edge of the Cairngorms.
| Day | Stage | Distance | Overnight / destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Longest | Buckie → Craigellachie | 23.6 mi (38.0 km) | The Craigellachie Hotel (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 2 | Craigellachie → Ballindalloch | 11.9 mi (19.1 km) | Cragganmore Lodge (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 3 | Ballindalloch → Grantown-on-Spey | 14.7 mi (23.7 km) | Grant Arms Hotel (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 4 | Grantown-on-Spey → Aviemore | 16.2 mi (26.1 km) | Cairngorm Hotel (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 5 | Aviemore → Newtonmore | 20.4 mi (32.8 km) | Speyside Way Finish |
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Day 1 Longest
Buckie to Craigellachie
23.6 mi (38.0 km) ↑ 550 m (1,800 ft) ↓ 490 m (1,600 ft)
The longest day of the plan, and it comes first. The coast path and the river are flat all morning, and the Dolphin Centre café at Spey Bay is the place to eat properly. After Fochabers the quiet road is quick but hard on the soles. Ben Aigan's forest track comes late in the day, so pace the morning and keep something in reserve for the climb.
Example stay The Craigellachie Hotel (opens in a new tab)
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Day 2
Craigellachie to Ballindalloch
11.9 mi (19.1 km) ↑ 190 m (600 ft) ↓ 140 m (450 ft)
A shorter day on level ground, to recover from the first. The old railway runs past Telford's iron bridge, through Aberlour and along the river to Ballindalloch. Take a long stop in Aberlour, early on, where the cafés are. Ballindalloch's beds are few, which is why this plan stops here rather than pressing on.
Example stay Cragganmore Lodge (opens in a new tab)
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Day 3
Ballindalloch to Grantown-on-Spey
14.7 mi (23.7 km) ↑ 550 m (1,800 ft) ↓ 470 m (1,550 ft)
Slow miles in the forest, though the day is not long. Above the river the path climbs and drops, crosses stepping stones and stops at chain gate after chain gate, and the ground is often wet. Bring lunch and water for the whole day. The crossing of the Spey at Cromdale marks the end of the hard part, and Anagach Woods lead into Grantown.
Example stay Grant Arms Hotel (opens in a new tab)
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Day 4
Grantown-on-Spey to Aviemore
16.2 mi (26.1 km) ↑ 210 m (700 ft) ↓ 210 m (700 ft)
Long but easy, the day to bank before the finish. Trackbed and pinewood paths run to Nethy Bridge for lunch and on past the Loch Garten osprey woods. The steam railway runs alongside from Boat of Garten into Aviemore. Get to bed early, because tomorrow is long.
Example stay Cairngorm Hotel (opens in a new tab)
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Day 5
Aviemore to Newtonmore
20.4 mi (32.8 km) ↑ 400 m (1,300 ft) ↓ 370 m (1,200 ft)
Gentle at first, then the forest: the miles to Kincraig run easily beside the railway, and the café there is a good place to refuel. Past Loch Insh the path rises and dips by the Uath Lochans, and Ruthven Barracks stands over the marshes before Kingussie. From Bridge of Tromie the last miles are level, and the walk ends in Newtonmore.
Finish Speyside Way Finish
Cross-check: Speyside Way route sections . The official route pages give six main sections and the Tomintoul spur, which these plans leave out. Card distances are measured along the trail between the towns. A walk off the path to a bed is extra.
Toward Buckie
Newtonmore to Buckie in 5 days
The same beds, starting under the Cairngorms. The river carries you down through the pinewoods and the distillery villages to the sea at Spey Bay.
| Day | Stage | Distance | Overnight / destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Newtonmore → Aviemore | 20.4 mi (32.8 km) | Cairngorm Hotel (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 2 | Aviemore → Grantown-on-Spey | 16.2 mi (26.1 km) | Grant Arms Hotel (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 3 | Grantown-on-Spey → Ballindalloch | 14.7 mi (23.7 km) | Cragganmore Lodge (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 4 | Ballindalloch → Craigellachie | 11.9 mi (19.1 km) | The Craigellachie Hotel (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 5 Longest | Craigellachie → Buckie | 23.6 mi (38.0 km) | Buckie |
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Day 1
Newtonmore to Aviemore
20.4 mi (32.8 km) ↑ 370 m (1,200 ft) ↓ 400 m (1,300 ft)
A long first day of 20.4 mi (32.8 km), past Ruthven Barracks and the Insh Marshes to Loch Insh. The forest has a few brief, steep climbs, and Kincraig's café is the last food before the easy miles into Aviemore.
Example stay Cairngorm Hotel (opens in a new tab)
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Day 2
Aviemore to Grantown-on-Spey
16.2 mi (26.1 km) ↑ 210 m (700 ft) ↓ 210 m (700 ft)
The steam railway keeps you company out of Aviemore. Pinewood paths lead past the osprey woods of Loch Garten to lunch at Nethy Bridge, and the last miles to Grantown are easy trackbed across open farmland.
Example stay Grant Arms Hotel (opens in a new tab)
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Day 3
Grantown-on-Spey to Ballindalloch
14.7 mi (23.7 km) ↑ 470 m (1,550 ft) ↓ 550 m (1,800 ft)
Anagach Woods make a gentle start out of Grantown before the path crosses the Spey at Cromdale and climbs into the forest. The rest is short steep pulls, wet ground and many chain gates, so allow more time than the miles suggest.
Example stay Cragganmore Lodge (opens in a new tab)
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Day 4
Ballindalloch to Craigellachie
11.9 mi (19.1 km) ↑ 140 m (450 ft) ↓ 190 m (600 ft)
Level railway trackbed all day, with the river close below and two suspension bridges on the way. Aberlour comes late in the walk, so carry something to eat until then.
Example stay The Craigellachie Hotel (opens in a new tab)
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Day 5 Longest
Craigellachie to Buckie
23.6 mi (38.0 km) ↑ 490 m (1,600 ft) ↓ 550 m (1,800 ft)
This way the long day comes last, and Ben Aigan is the climb at the start of it. After Fochabers the river widens toward the sea, and the shingle of Spey Bay opens out for the last flat miles to Buckie.
Finish Buckie
5-day itinerary FAQ
Can you walk the Speyside Way in 5 days?
Yes, if you are fit and used to long days. This plan has two days over 20 mi (32 km): Buckie to Craigellachie, 23.6 mi (38 km), and Aviemore to Newtonmore, 20.4 mi (32.8 km).
Where do I sleep on the 5-day?
Craigellachie, Ballindalloch, Grantown-on-Spey and Aviemore, then Newtonmore at the finish. Ballindalloch has the fewest beds.
Is the 5-day a good first long walk?
No. The first day is 23.6 mi (38 km), and the last is 20.4 mi (32.8 km). For a first long walk, the 7-day keeps every day under 16.2 mi (26.1 km).
Can I get my bag moved on the 5-day?
Yes, from spring to autumn, by a local courier. Ask whether it reaches Newtonmore when you book.
Can I download a GPX for the 5-day Speyside Way?
Yes. Open this itinerary in the planner (free, no account). Download a full-route GPX or per-day files for Garmin, Komoot, or your phone. You can export the preset unchanged or edit overnight stops first.
Personalise this itinerary
This 5-day itinerary is ready as it stands. Open it in the planner to keep these stops, or change where you sleep, then download the GPX for your watch or phone.
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