The Speyside Way. Alan Castle

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      2 The Tomintoul route of the Speyside Way, starting from Tomintoul and walking the hill route over to Ballindalloch, from where the standard way is followed to Buckie. This is a shorter trek (50 miles) than that along the standard route, but the first 15 miles are of a somewhat more strenuous nature. Options 1 and 2 can both be extended, and indeed improved, by following the Dufftown Loop from Aberlour to Dufftown and on to Craigellachie, adding about 7 miles to the length of the walk.

      3 A walk along the Speyside Way, starting at Dufftown and finishing at Buckie (27½ miles or 30 miles if via Aberlour).

      4 The Speyside Way from Aviemore or Newtonmore to Ballindalloch and then from there northwards along the Tomintoul Spur to finish in the village of Tomintoul. 46 miles from Aviemore or 65 miles from Newtonmore.

      5 The Dava Way from Grantown-on-Spey to Forres (25 miles).

      6 The Moray Coast Trail from Forres to Cullen (47 miles).

      7 From Grantown-on-Spey to Cullen on the Moray Coast by following the full length of the Dava Way to Forres and then continuing along the Moray Coast Trail all the way to its termination at Cullen. This combined Dava Way and MCT trek is 72 miles in length.

      8 Commencing at either Newtonmore or Aviemore and following the Badenoch Way and Speyside Way to Grantown, and then taking Option No. 7 to Forres and on to Cullen. This would make a walking route of either 88½ miles (from Aviemore) or 107½ miles (from Newtonmore).

      9 Experienced hillwalkers can make a self-supported trek from Lochaber to Speyside across mountains and moorland, either from Roybridge or from Spean Bridge to Laggan and then on via Glen Banchor to Newtonmore (39 miles from Roybridge or 44½ miles from Spean Bridge). Alternatively, the walk could be commenced at Fort Augustus (41 miles to Newtonmore).

      10 Less experienced walkers who wish to include a visit to the source of the Spey at Loch Spey can commence at Garva Bridge, provided transport can be arranged, visit Loch Spey (Prologue, Side trip), walking to Laggan and then to Newtonmore via General Wade's Military Road, a total distance of 36 miles.

      11 As Option No. 9 or 10 but continuing along the Badenoch Way and the Speyside Way to Buckie or from Grantown to Forres and Cullen on the Dava Way and MCT. Distances for the various main long distance options are listed in the box below.

      12 The Moray Way (see page 14). The total distance is about 95 miles.

      Therefore, this marvellous network of long distance routes in this part of Scotland can be used to create walking trails from 25 to 146 miles in length – from a weekend break to a full fortnight's holiday – and from walks on a flat railway line to wilderness treks over mountain passes.

Roybridge > Laggan > Glen Banchor > Newtonmore > Aviemore > Buckie = 124 miles

Spean Bridge > Laggan > Glen Banchor > Newtonmore > Aviemore > Buckie = 130 miles

Fort Augustus > Loch Spey > Laggan > Glen Banchor > Newtonmore > Aviemore > Buckie = 126 miles

Roybridge > Laggan > Glen Banchor > Newtonmore > Aviemore > Grantown-on-Spey > Forres > Cullen = 146 miles

Obviously by ‘mixing and matching’ various route options, even more combinations are possible. These can all be walked with the aid of this guidebook.

Suggested Day Walks

      The Speyside Way and the other trails are not the sole preserve of the long distance walker, and not everyone will have the ambition to walk every foot of the Way. For walkers living or staying in the area, who can travel to the routes either by car or by public transport, the Speyside Way and the other trails may be used for just part of a day walk or longer expedition across the region. Simply walk the stages in any order as takes your fancy or is most convenient, until all the route has been covered. There are three main variations of the ‘day walks method’ – use just one or a mixture of all three.

      1 Walk one section at a time in a ‘there and back’ manner. Drive or take public transport to the start of the trail. Walk along the Way to a village, town or point on a road where a car can be safely and responsibly parked, or public transport taken at a later date. Walk back along the trail to your starting point. On your second visit drive or take public transport to the point you reached at the end of the first day of the trail. Repeat this technique for as long as it takes to walk the whole of the Speyside Way or one of the other routes.

      2 Plan to walk sections of the route with friends taking two cars. Park one car at the end of the section you intend to walk, and drive together to the start of your day walk, leaving the second car there. On reaching the end of your walk, drive back to your starting point in the second car. A variation of this is to split the group into two, one parking a car at one end of the section and the other at the other end, and each group walking in opposite directions. Swap car keys on meeting halfway through your day. This can only go wrong if one or both groups stray from the line of the Way! Bear in mind that reception for mobile phones can be unreliable in some of the areas through which these trails pass. A safer option is for each driver to carry keys for the other car.

      3 Use the Speyside Way or other trail as part of a large number of circular walks. Continue these, ‘filling in the blanks’ in the Way until eventually an entire trail has been covered.

      Railway station in Aviemore (Speyside Way)

Mountain Biking and Horse Riding

      This book is primarily intended as a guide for walkers, but many sections of these three trails are also suitable for cyclists. Gradients are generally gentle ones, with no long strenuous stages. Mountain bikes or at least ‘on-road/off-road’ hybrids are recommended, and road bikes with thin tyres are not advised. The Dava Way, which follows the course of an old railway line for most of its 25 miles, is the most suitable of the three routes for cycling and makes an ideal day out for cyclists; fit riders could even ride from Grantown to Forres and back in one day. There are few hazards other than the sharp needles from gorse and hawthorn bushes that line several sections of the trails, which are ideal for acquiring punctures (the author writes from experience!). Cyclists must take special care when close to pedestrians – always be considerate and give way to them.

      Horse riders are welcomed on some sections of the Speyside Way, notably the railway line between Ballindalloch station and Aberlour (contact the Moray Council Ranger Service for the current situation, see Appendix B). The Dava Way railway line is also suitable for horse riders and is described in a leaflet entitled ‘Horse Riding Routes in Moray’, produced by the Moray Equestrian Access Group and available at local tourist offices.

      The most suitable and appropriate areas for cycling or mountain biking on the three official trails are as follows:

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Speyside Way	Aviemore to Boat of Garten
	Ballindalloch to Fochabers
	Do not cycle on the sections between Cromdale and Ballindalloch or on the Tomintoul Spur.*
Dava Way	The whole of the trail between Grantown and Forres, although in some small areas cyclists must avoid paths designated only for walkers; alternative trails suitable for cyclists and mountain bikers are signposted.
Moray Coast Trail	Forres to Findhorn