8-day Speyside Way itinerary

1. Day 1

   Buckie to Fochabers

   4–5 h 11.0 mi (17.6 km) ↑ 70 m (250 ft) ↓ 60 m (200 ft)

   An easy opening day, along the coast and up to the river mouth. Buckie's fishing heritage centre is worth an hour before you set off. Portgordon has a shop, and the Dolphin Centre at Spey Bay is the place to sit with a coffee and watch the river reach the sea. The last miles are narrow riverside woods, slower than they look, into the planned streets of Fochabers.

   Example stay The Gordon Arms Hotel (opens in a new tab)

2. Day 2

   Fochabers to Craigellachie

   5–6 h 12.6 mi (20.4 km) ↑ 490 m (1,600 ft) ↓ 440 m (1,450 ft)

   Road first, then the hill: the morning is quiet lanes beside the river, quick going but tiring on the feet. A short detour reaches the Earth Pillars, high over the Spey. Ben Aigan's forest track climbs steadily after Boat o' Brig, and the beech woods of Arndilly are a soft way down to Craigellachie. Take lunch with you, as nothing is open on the way.

   Example stay The Craigellachie Hotel (opens in a new tab)

3. Day 3

   Craigellachie to Ballindalloch

   5–6 h 11.9 mi (19.1 km) ↑ 190 m (600 ft) ↓ 140 m (450 ft)

   A day to dawdle: the old railway runs level beside the river from start to finish, firm underfoot and quiet. Telford's iron bridge is behind you within minutes. Aberlour comes early, so linger there over coffee or a distillery tour. After it the trackbed swaps banks and follows the Spey to the viaduct at Ballindalloch.

   Example stay Cragganmore Lodge (opens in a new tab)

4. Day 4 Longest

   Ballindalloch to Grantown-on-Spey

   6–7 h 14.7 mi (23.7 km) ↑ 550 m (1,800 ft) ↓ 470 m (1,550 ft)

   The one demanding day, and the longest of this plan. The path leaves the old railway for forest and farmland high above the river, crossing stepping stones and boardwalks and stopping at gate after gate. The ground is often wet. It enters the Cairngorms National Park near Mains of Dalvey, then drops to Cromdale and through Anagach Woods into Grantown's 18th-century square.

   Example stay Grant Arms Hotel (opens in a new tab)

5. Day 5

   Grantown-on-Spey to Boat of Garten

   4–5 h 10.6 mi (17.1 km) ↑ 150 m (500 ft) ↓ 150 m (500 ft)

   A short day after the hard one, on old railway to Nethy Bridge, with four Telford bridges and a drinking fountain in the village. The Abernethy pinewoods come next, near Loch Garten, where ospreys first came back to nest in 1954. Boat of Garten is a small village, so you arrive with the afternoon to spare.

   Example stay The Boat Country Inn & Restaurant (opens in a new tab)

6. Day 6

   Boat of Garten to Aviemore

   2–3 h 5.6 mi (9.0 km) ↑ 60 m (200 ft) ↓ 70 m (250 ft)

   The shortest day of the walk, beside the Strathspey Steam Railway into Aviemore. The Cairngorms fill the view ahead, and the path is flat enough to walk while you watch them. Leave time for a ride on the heritage line or a long lunch. Stock up in Aviemore, because Kincraig tomorrow has a café but nowhere to buy food.

   Example stay Cairngorm Hotel (opens in a new tab)

7. Day 7

   Aviemore to Kincraig

   3–4 h 7.0 mi (11.3 km) ↑ 110 m (350 ft) ↓ 100 m (350 ft)

   Another short day, through open woodland beside the main railway. Kincraig's café at the Old Post Office makes a good stop. Loch Insh is just beyond the village, and the old kirk on its mound looks over the water from beside Insh Hall. Arrange the evening meal ahead, as the village has few places to eat.

   Example stay Insh Hall (opens in a new tab)

8. Day 8

   Kincraig to Newtonmore

   5–6 h 13.4 mi (21.5 km) ↑ 280 m (900 ft) ↓ 270 m (900 ft)

   A little climbing to start: steep stretches through the forest by the Uath Lochans. Tromie Falls is the next good stop, and the path then crosses the Insh Marshes. Ruthven Barracks, burnt after Culloden, comes before Kingussie. The final 5.5 mi (8.9 km) on a cycleway are nearly level all the way into 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.

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