- On trail 20.4 mi 32.8 km
- Walking time 8–9 h
- Ascent 400 m 1,300 ft
- Descent 370 m 1,200 ft
- Difficulty Moderate
The last miles: Loch Insh, the marshes and Ruthven Barracks, to the end of the Way.
Section 6: Aviemore to Newtonmore map
Example stay Speyside Way Finish
Cross-check: Speyside Way route sections . Opened 5 November 2026. The official page gives each section's published miles, which the FAQ uses. The distance at the top of this page is measured along the trail between these towns. A walk off the path to a bed is extra.
The walk
The finish of the Speyside Way: its longest section, which most walkers split at Kincraig. The first miles run gently beside the railway through open woodland. Past Loch Insh the path climbs through forest by the Uath Lochans, small dark pools under the hills. Below, the reeds of the Insh Marshes spread across the valley floor, with Ruthven Barracks above them, and the last miles to Newtonmore are almost flat.
-
Start of section
Aviemore
-
The split
Loch Insh
The old kirk above the water is dedicated to St Adamnan, Columba's biographer. Insh Hall, beside it, is where the 7- and 8-day stop.
-
Ruthven Barracks
Jacobites gathered here after Culloden in April 1746, were told to disperse, and burnt the barracks. They have stood roofless ever since.
-
The finish
Newtonmore
The Highland Folk Museum, an open-air museum of Highland life whose 1700s township appeared in Outlander, is at the end of the walk.
-
Official finish
Newtonmore
Section 6: Aviemore to Newtonmore overview
The ground
- Woodland
- Forest track
- Cycleway
Gentle paths to Kincraig, a forest stretch with short climbs, then a flat cycleway. The longest section on the Way. The ground is easier than Ballindalloch to Grantown, but the distance is the challenge.
Stops
Refreshments
- Aviemore
- Kincraig (café)
- Kingussie
- Newtonmore
Toilets
- The official route page names no public toilet on this section
Before you go
Opposite direction
Newtonmore to Aviemore
Walking north, the flat cycleway out of Newtonmore leads to Ruthven Barracks and Kingussie. The forest climbs come in the middle, and the gentle miles from Kincraig run into Aviemore.
End of section
Aviemore
Aviemore to Newtonmore FAQ
How long is Aviemore to Newtonmore?
It is 19.5 miles (31.4 km), too long for one day for many walkers.
Where should I split Aviemore to Newtonmore?
At Kincraig, about a third of the way. The 7- and 8-day stop at Insh Hall on Loch Insh, on the path just past the village.
How do I get home from Newtonmore?
Newtonmore is on the main railway between Edinburgh and Inverness, so trains run south and north from the village.
Walk this as a day
Day 6 of the 6-day walks it in one go. The 7- and 8-day stop at Loch Insh by Kincraig and finish the next day. Open the planner on that preset, then export a full-trip or per-day GPX.
Open in planner Read the 6-day itinerary
Full-trip and per-day GPX files. Free, no account.
Explore
