The Speyside Way is a long-distance path in Scotland. It travels through the Scottish Highlands and North East Scotland. Most of it is suitable for cycling and horse-riding as well as walking.

Understand

The Speyside Way is one of four official Long Distance Routes in Scotland (the others are the West Highland Way, the Southern Upland Way and The Great Glen Way). It was first opened in 1981, to run from Spey Bay to Ballindalloch, with a spur to Tomintoul being added in 1990. A northern extension from Spey Bay to Buckie followed in 1999, with the route finally being completed between Ballindalloch and Aviemore in April 2000. In 2015 the route was extended to start at Kincraig, and an extension to to Kingussie is under way. The route now links the Moray coast with the edge of the Grampian Mountains, generally following the valley of the River Spey.

Prepare

List of Camping available along The Speyside Way The Speyside Way Ranger Service is located in Aberlour and is responsible for guidance along the route.

• Speyside Way Visitor Centre, Old Station Building, Aberlour, ☏ +44 1340 881266, speyside.way@moray.gov.uk. 

Get in

Guide to Public Transport along the Speyside Way There are railway stations in Elgin and Aviemore from where connections can be made to the rest of the United Kingdom. The Edinburgh/Glasgow bus service passes through Aviemore. Buses also connect Elgin with Aberdeen and Inverness, and from Elgin there is a regular service to Aberlour, Craigellachie and Dufftown. South of Aberlour, however, services are much less frequent, and getting to and from Tomintoul by bus requires more perseverance and the help of some local knowledge! There is a local bus service linking Aviemore with Grantown on Spey and Ballindalloch.

Walk, cycle or horseride

Section 0: Kinussie or Kincraig to Aviemore

In 2015 the route was extended to allow a start from Kincraig, and the path is shown on the map as starting from near Kingussie.

From Kingussie the route follows the B970 road past Ruthven Barracks, and then follows paths through the woods, a little south of the B970 to near loch Insh, and then on through Kincraig. From Kincraig the route runs close to the railway line most of the way to Aviemore.

Section 1: Aviemore to Boat of Garten, 6 Miles

The beginning of The Speyside Way is the car park located on Grampian Road near the 1 Aviemore police station. On leaving the village, the trail winds through coniferous and birch woodland and across heather, following the line of the restored Strathspey Railway.

Section 2: Boat of Garten to Grantown on Spey, 11 Miles

The trail from 2 Boat of Garten takes you through a nature reserve to Nethy Bridge, then along a closed railway line to 3 Grantown on Spey

Section 3: Grantown on Spey to Ballindalloch, 13 Miles

This section of the trail winds through forest and sections of closed railway line as you travel through Cromdale to 4 Ballindalloch. Ballindalloch is roughly mid way along the main trail, and it also where the spur south into the Cairngorm Mountains starts on its way to Tomintoul.

Cyclists should avoid the section between Cromdale to Ballindalloch, and use the B9102 instead.

Section Spur 1: Ballindalloch to Tomintoul, 15 Miles

This spur feels like you are traveling through a magical landscape where anything is possible over the next rise and is considered the highest part of the whole trail, climbing twice to over 1800 feet. 1 Tomintoul is the highest village in the Highlands.

Cyclists should use roads for this section if they wish to reach Tomintoul. The trail is not open to cyclists.

Section 4: Ballindalloch to Craigellachie, 12 Miles

The trail continues to follow the track of the closed Strathspey Railway to 5 Craigellachie

Section Spur 2: Craigellachie to Dufftown, 4 Miles

This spur of the main trail leads to 2 Dufftown, a community dedicated heart and soul to whisky making.

Section 5: Craigellachie to Fochabers, 13 Miles

As the trail gets closer to the sea, it travels along small secondary roads, then climbs over the shoulder of Ben Aigen via the Craigellachie Forest. It continues along more small secondary roads to reach 6 Fochabers.

Section 6: Fochabers to Buckie, 10 Miles

On the final push to the coast, the trail continues to follow closed railway tracks alongside the River Spey to the coast, which you reach at Spey Bay. A sharp right turn onto the closed railway line to Portgordon and the final stretch. The end of the walk is at Buckpool Harbour, on the outskirts of 7 Buckie.

Go next

There are several other long distance tracks in Scotland

• Southern Upland Way is a 212 mile walking route in the Scottish Borders from coast to coast.
• West Highland Way is a 96 mile walking route from Glasgow to Fort William.
• John Muir Way is a 120 mile walking and cycling route across the Central Belt
• Great Glen Way is a 73 mile walking and cycling route from Fort William to Inverness