Speyside Way

authors: Jacquetta Megarry and Sandra Bardwell
The Speyside Way runs for 85 miles from the coast at the fishing port of Buckie to Newtonmore, with an optional wilderness extension to Tomintoul via Glenlivet. The route passes through the heart of malt whisky country, gently towards the foothills of the Cairngorms. Mostly you walk in the valley of the fast-flowing River Spey, Scotland's second-longest river and certainly it's most dynamic. This is a special Area of Conservation and a haven for wildlife and threatened species.

The Way passes through farms and villages full of local colour, giving you an insight into their way of life. Most of the walking is straightforward, along paths and disused railway track-bed through splendid scenery of mixed woods, hills, farmland. You don't need to be an experienced long-distance walker to tackle this hike, but good preparation is always essential before embarking on a long-distance path.

The route is described in seven sections as follows:
Buckie to Fochabers - 10.7 miles
Fochabers to Craigellachie - 12.7 miles
Craigellachie to Ballindalloch - 12.2 miles
Ballindalloch to Tomintoul (wilderness option) - 15.6 miles
Tomintoul to Ballindalloch (wilderness option return)
Ballindalloch to Grantown-on-Spey - 13.7 miles
Grantown-on-Spey to Aviemore - 16.2 miles
Aviemore to Newtonmore - 19.5 miles

This third edition of the Speyside Way trail guide has been revised to celebrate the long-awaited extension to Newtonmore. It contains all you need to plan and enjoy walking this trail, including:
Detailed directions for the Way upstream
Concise directions for the Way downstream
17 pages with detailed colour mapping at 1:42,500 scale
Habitats and wildlife, including dolphin, osprey and wildcat
Detailed coverage of whisky-making and distilleries
Produced in full colour with 103 photographs
Rucksack friendly and printed on rainproof paper

ISBN 9781898481997 Pages 80 (2021) 130mm x 220mm

by: Heidi M. Sands
The Speyside Way, from Aviemore to Spey Bay follows the old Strathspey railway line for a large part of its length. This accessibility affords easy diversions to other gems in the area and makes the path worth traversing. Just off the Speyside Way there is much to see, both unique sights and national treasures, such as the Telford Bridge at Craigellachie and the Macallan distillery at Elchies. It is these and other gems that this little volume seeks to uncover and explore. It can be used for one-off walks or for additional excursions whilst traversing the Speyside Way route.

Most of the walks in this guide are circular, with the exception of three linear routes, and begin at a car park or safe parking location with the grid reference provided. Public transport options are given where available. The walks, between 2 and 9 miles long, are graded from easy to challenging. Distance and a short description of the terrain are also provided. Clear route directions are provided together with simple sketch maps.

One of the features that make the 'Boot Up' series of guides so attractive is the emphasis on good landscape photography and the book is well illustrated throughout with colour photographs. The handy size also means it will slip easily into your pocket, protected by the tough cover.

The walk locations are:
Spey Bay - 2.5 miles
Grantown on Spey - 4 miles
Archiestown Village - 2 miles
Aberlour - 2.5 miles
Elchies - 4 miles
Glenlivet - 2 miles
Dufftown - 4 miles linear
Fochabers - 4 miles
Ben Aigan - 9 miles linear
Loch Spey - 15 miles linear

ISBN 9781906887919 Pages 64 (2010) 155mm x 115mm hardback

The Speyside Way is one of Scotland's Great Trails. It runs between Aviemore at the heart of Strathspey, 66 miles to Buckie, on the Moray Firth. The route passes through some of Scotland's most beautiful landscapes, by rivers and mountains, over moorland and along forest paths.

This Footprint map is divided into six sections, each displayed on a separate panel, and folds easily to show a particular part of the Way. The Route is marked in miles starting in Aviemore. Text clearly describing the route accompanies the map sections.

Printed on waterproof paper, this map will remain legible even when wet and can easily be dried and re-used. The supplied plastic sleeve affords even further protection from wear and tear. Useful information for planning transport and accommodation are included on the map, as well as the location of all the services walkers need to enjoy the Speyside Way.

ISBN 9781871149975 Folded map and plastic sleeve (2019) 120mm x 210mm folded