The Speyside Way: One of Scotland's most amazing and wondrous features is the stunning group of four long distance walking routes that attract visitors and locals alike. Speyside Way is perhaps the best known of these routes, offering as much as 135 kilometres of pathways when you take into account the two major spurs that lead off of the main route.
The Speyside Way is specifically laid out and designed so that each section of the walk starts and ends in a town or village, making it easy for visitors to find suitable places to stay, to eat, and to shop along the way. Whether you choose to walk the entire route or just parts of the route, it is a memorable and enjoyable experience.
Which way should you walk?
The route of Speyside Way generally follows the contours of the River Spey, tracing its path from the mountains to the sea. Some travel guides suggest you should walk Speyside Way beginning at the sea and working your way upriver, while others suggest you should begin in the mountains and work your way downriver.
The Route:
If you choose to start at the sea then you can expect to encounter the easiest sections of the route early on and more challenging sections of route later. Many people find this to be a good approach, but be prepared to spend most of your walking time facing into the sun.
If you choose to start in the mountains then you can expect to spend most of your walking time facing away from the sun and toward the changing views that emerge downriver. However, this approach also means you will encounter the most challenging portions of the walk right away, something that many people find intimidating or overwhelming.
Mountains to the sea via the Speyside Way
For this article we will follow the Speyside Way from the mountains down to the sea. This is not to say that we believe this approach is any better than the other approach, but simply to make describing the walk from start to finish easier to understand and follow.
Aviemore to Boat of Garten – This is the traditional and most common first section for those starting in the mountains. It is easy terrain consisting mostly of farm tracks, minor roads, and cycling paths. The distance is approximately 9.5 kilometres.
Boat of Garten to Nethy Bridge – This section is easy terrain consisting of forest roads and paths. The distance is approximately 8 kilometres.
Nethy Bridge to Grantown on Spey – This section is easy terrain consisting of some forest roads but mainly of old railway beds now covered in soft grasses. The distance is approximately 9.5 kilometres.
Grantown on Spey to Ballindalloch Station – This section is moderate to difficult terrain consisting of some steep paths, rough ground, two stream crossings, and generally wet and rugged ground. The distance is approximately 20.9 kilometres.
Tomintoul to Ballindalloch Station – This is one of the spur routes leading off from Speyside Way. It consists of difficult to extremely difficult terrain with two altitude changes of over 548 metres and some very rough tracks along open and exposed hillsides. The distance is approximately 24.1 kilometres.
Ballindalloch Station to Craigellachie – This section is easy terrain consisting of old railway beds with grassy surfaces, but some parts may become muddy when the weather is wet and rainy. The distance is approximately 19.3 kilometres.
Craigellachie to Fochabers – This section is moderate terrain consisting mainly of forest tracks, woodland paths, and improved roads. The distance is approximately 20.9 kilometres.
Fochabers to Spey Bay – This is the traditional and most common final section for those starting in the mountains. It is easy terrain consisting of tracks along the river and through some forest areas, as well as some grassy paths and tracks. The distance is approximately 8 kilometres.
Spey Bay to Buckie – This is one of the spur routes leading off from Speyside Way. It is easy terrain consisting of paths that follow the shore line, some woodland paths, and some old railway beds. The distance is approximately 8 kilometres.
Final thoughts on Speyside Way
Whether you are looking for a multi day walking adventure through the Scottish countryside or just a single day excursion of easy meanderings, the Speyside Way offers exactly what you want and need.