Deru - Self Guided Speyside Way

email: [email protected] tel: +44 (0) 1479 420020

Overview

The Speyside Way covers just over 100 kilometres (65 miles) from the fishing village of Buckie on the Moray coast to the village of Aviemore, in the foothills of the great Cairngorm Mountains.

The Speyside Way trail follows the banks of the River Spey, often along disused railway lines as it makes its way from the sea to the Cairngorms National Park.

Following the banks of the River Spey, this is the easiest of our long-distance hiking routes. However, it still presents a good challenge and offers enjoyable walking and hiking through a changing landscape. Hiking through villages, woods and rural riverlands, the path is fairly quiet so you won’t be sharing it with many other hikers and will often find that you have it to yourself.

Please note: Total daily distances are given for each stage but will vary slightly as you also need to walk to your accommodation each day which will usually add a short distance.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 | Wednesday 23^rd April | Transfer Fochabers | Overnight: Fochabers

Day 2 | Thursday 24^th April | Fochabers to Craigellachie | Overnight: Craigellachie

Day 3 | Friday 25^th April | Craigellachie to Ballindalloch | Overnight: Ballindalloch

Day 4 | Saturday 26^th April | Ballindalloch to Grantown-on-Spey | Overnight: Grantown-on-Spey

Day 5 | Sunday 27^th April | Grantown-on-Spey to Boat of Garten | Overnight: Boat of Garten

Day 6 | Monday 28^th April | Depart Boat of Garten

Highlights

Hike the Speyside Way from the sea to the Cairngorms National Park - home to some of the highest mountains in Scotland.
Enjoy the satisfaction of hiking from point to point each day, covering over 65 miles along the trail.
Visit some of Scotland's finest whisky distilleries, many of which are located along the route of the Speyside Way.

Day by Day

Day 1 - Wednesday 23^rd April - Transfer Fochabers

Drive to The Boat Country Inn and park the car. Confirm parking with reception and possibly leave keys. Then, travel to Fochabers for the first overnight stay. Ace Taxis will provide a people carrier transfer, which has been arranged for 1400 hours. Enjoy a relaxing evening at your accommodation before your adventure begins tomorrow.

Overnight: Fochabers | Grant Arms Hotel
Room Type: 2 x twin en-suite
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 1 - Directions Read More +

To get to The Boat Country Inn from the A95, turn onto Deshar Road, and the Hotel will be at the end of the road.

Ace Taxis has been booked at 1400hrs to transfer you directly to the Grant Arms in Fochaber for your first-night stay.

Day 1 - Fochabers Read More +

Fochabers is a charming village close to the River Spey in the county of Moray. It is a pleasant and friendly place with a population of around 1800. The current town of Fochabers dates from 1776, prior to the founding of the present village. The old town of Fochabers stood a short distance to the north and nearer Gordon Castle. The fourth Duke of Gordon had been for some time desirous to remove the present Town or Village of Fochabers upon account of its inconvenient nearness to Gordon Castle and at the beginning of 1776, he took steps to shift its inhabitants to a new site. The architect John Baxter of Edinburgh, already commissioned by the Duke in the renovation of Gordon Castle, drew up the plans for the layout of the new town. The first feu was taken up in mid-1776 and over the next twenty years or so the planned town took shape with some of the early tenementers being paid to flit from the old town. Later residents had to pay entry money. The village is also home to a family-run company, Baxters the well- known maker of Scottish produce.

Day 2 - Thursday 24^th April - Fochabers to Craigellachie

Today is the first day of your fantastic walk! The terrain will be challenging, with undulating countryside causing ascent and descent. You start by following quiet country roads through forested lands overlooking the river. After passing a bridge at Boat o’ Brig, you get off the road and enter attractive woodland as you walk across the lower flanks of Ben Aigan. This is the more challenging section, with more ascent, but then it’s all downhill to your accommodation at Craigellachie.

Overnight: Craigellachie | Bridge View B&B
Room Type: 1 x twin en-suite & 1 x family room with private bathroom facilities for twin/double occupancy
Meals Included: Breakfast
Walk Details: 21 km / 13 miles

Day 2 - Directions Read More +

As you approach the village of Craigellachie the Way will take you onto the A95 and Victoria Street, the main road through the village. Do not follow the Way into Fiddich Park but instead stay on Victoria Street and after a short distance, you will reach Spey Road on your left (signposted Village Hall). Turn sharp left onto Spey Road and after approximately 110 yards/100 metres turn right onto Leslie Terrace. Bridge View is 175 yards/160 metres along the terrace on the left hand side.

Day 2 - Craigellachie Read More +

Craigellachie lies at the very heart of Speyside situated on the Eastern bank of the River Spey near where the river merges with the Fiddich. The name means ‘rocky hill’ and the village dates back to circa 1750. Craigellachie is dependent on the whisky industry and is home to the Speyside Cooperage where local professional Coopers make whisky casks. The Cooperage has an excellent visitor centre and is on Dufftown Road. Craigellachie Bridge was built by Thomas Telford in 1814. A plaque on one of the towers guarding the entrance to the bridge records that the metalwork was cast in Wales, another plaque shows that the bridge was restored in 1964.

Day 3 - Friday 25^th April - Craigellachie to Ballindalloch

Today’s section of the trail is a lovely hike on easy terrain, following the banks of the river with sections along the old former railway line, which is now a flat and grassy track – meaning there is very little ascent today! You’re also in prime whisky country now, so you may even like to consider stopping off to visit a distillery today. Aberlour is a good choice! At the very least, you can look forward to a local dram with dinner tonight, wherever you eat.

Overnight: Ballindalloch | The Delnashaugh
Room Type: 2 x twin en-suite
Meals Included: Breakfast
Walk Details: 19 km / 12 miles | 48 m / 157 ft elevation gain

Day 3 - Directions Read More +

The Delnashaugh Hotel is about one mile/1.6 km from the Speyside Way and directly on the well marked Tomintoul Spur. At Ballindalloch Station, leave the Speyside Way and walk to the left onto Cragganmore Road, following the signs for the Tomintoul Spur. Follow this road onto the main road (A95). Turn left and walk past a small shop. The hotel is on the right, just past the shop and up a short hill.

Day 3 - Ballindalloch Read More +

Ballindalloch is a small village on the River Spey. The Spey and the Fiddich are rivers famous for the Malt Whisky Distilleries using their waters to distil uisge beatha (the water of life), ie whisky as we call it today. Speyside boasts over 50 distilleries, more than half the total in Scotland. Ballindalloch Castle is one of the most beautiful and renowned castles in Scotland. Known as the Pearl of the North, it is located in the heart of Speyside near to the famed local whisky distilleries of Cragganmore, Glenlivet, Glenfarclas and Glenfiddich. Surrounded by majestic hills, and with the tumbling waters of the Rivers Spey and Avon flowing through the grounds, Ballindalloch is one of the few privately owned castles to have been lived in continuously by its original family. The Macpherson-Grants have resided here since 1546.

Day 4 - Saturday 26^th April - Ballindalloch to Grantown-on-Spey

Today will be the most strenuous day of the trip with a longer distance and undulating terrain. The path today is a mixture of paths and some more disused railway, but it can be boggy for short sections. Today you will enter the Cairngorms National Park, with the mountains growing clearer and closer in the distance. Enjoy good views of the heathery hills and old woodlands as you hike today, including the beautiful community owned Anagach Pinewoods as you arrive for tonight’s halt at Grantown-on-Spey.

Overnight: Grantown-on-Spey | Speyside Hotel
Room Type: 2 x twin en-suite
Meals Included: Breakfast
Walk Details: 24 km / 15 miles | 500 m / 1,640 ft elevation gain

Day 4 - Directions Read More +

As you approach Grantown-on-Spey you will reach a tarmac road, ie Forest Road. Turn right onto Forest Road and continue all of the way along Forest Roaduntil Forest Road turns into Seafield Avenue. Simply continue along Seafield Avenue until you reach a T-junction with Grant Road on both the left and right.Turn left and continue down Grant Road until you reach the Speyside Hotel clearly signposted on the right hand side of the road (a short distance past Strathallan Guest House).

Day 4 - Grantown-on-Spey Read More +

Grantown-on-Spey, the Capital of Strathspey, is in the centre of the Scottish Highlands. A traditional Highland town on the River Spey on the northern edge of the Cairngorms National Park, it is a fine example of a Georgian planned town – one of the first to be set out in this fashion in the 1760’s. It has many historic buildings, a tree lined Square and striking Georgian and Victorian architecture. The town is surrounded by ancient woodlands much of which is community owned and which offer a unique habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. The town has an award-winning Museum which tells the story of Grantown’s beginnings brought to life by an extensive photographic collection and audio visual display. Here you can find out about Queen Victoria’s Royal Visit of 1860, the coming of the railways and Grantown’s development as a popular holiday destination.

Day 5 - Sunday 27^th April - Grantown-on-Spey to Boat of Garten

You’re now into the national park and today should be a very enjoyable hike, surrounded by gorgeous scenery. You start off following more old railway to the charming village of Nethybridge. After Nethybridge you enter the northern part of Abernethy Forest – a huge nature reserve owned by the RSPB. It’s a great section to look out for wildlife including red squirrels, and with good forest trails until a short section of road takes you over the river Spey once more and the lovely village of Boat of Garten. Arriving in Boat of Garten at your final guesthouse you can look forward to a celebration dinner tonight – you’ve done it!

Overnight: Boat of Garten | The Boat Country Inn
Room Type: 2 x classic twin en-suite
Meals Included: Breakfast
Walk Details: 18 km / 11 miles | 90 m / 295 ft elevation gain

Day 5 - Directions Read More +

From the Speyside Way, you arrive in Boat of Garten at the north end of the village. Turn left onto Spey Avenue and follow this road for a short distance until it bends to the right onto Deshar Road. Follow this road which takes you directly to the hotel.

Day 5 - Boat of Garten Read More +

Boat of Garten is a small village in the Highland area of Badenoch and Strathspey. The settlement took its name from the nearby ferry over the River Spey and the village grew with the arrival of the Highland Railway when the first bridge was built. The railway through the village was built by the Inverness & Perth Junction and Strathspey Railway Companies in the 19th Century and is now preserved as part of Strathspey Steam Railway. Known as The Boat to locals the village is famous for the nearby Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Reserve at Loch Garten. When the first ospreys returned to breed in Scotland, this was the location they chose to nest. Now you can watch them close-up thanks to non-invasive CCTV. The reserve also has some excellent walks with the chance to see red squirrels & dragonflies.

Day 6 - Monday 28^th April - Depart Boat of Garten

After breakfast this morning, you can go for a short walk and then start your journey homeward. We hope you have enjoyed your Speyside way adventure and hope you can return again someday in the future.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More

Accommodation on a Bed and Breakfast basis in Guest Houses, Bed and Breakfasts, Small Hotels and Inns on the route
Luggage transfer for 1 bag per person for the duration of the trip, meaning you will only have to carry a day rucksack. Strict weight limit of 18kg per bag.
Route notes which include a map and full directions to your accommodation.
The services of the Wilderness Scotland Team prior to & during your trip.

Notes Read More

LUGGAGE TRANSFER DETAILS

The door to door luggage transfer service for your walk has been organised with Ace Taxis. There is no need to contact the company as everything will be arranged for you. However, if you do need to contact them, they can be reached on 01343 820820.

Your luggage should be clearly labelled with your name and lead booker name for the luggage transfer company to identify your bags.

With the exception of your first walking day where you should take your bags with you on the train from Inverness to Elgin, your bags will be transported from and to the individual establishments where you are staying. Your bags should be available for collection each morning at around 0930 hrs. Please clearly label your bags with your name.

One bag per person is included in the trip, with a maximum weight limit of strictly 18 kg per bag.

Any laptops, tablets or similar items should be carried in your day rucksack. If these items are placed in your main luggage which is transferred by Ace Taxis each day, these items are carried at your own risk and you accept all responsibility for any damage, theft or loss.
We recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking. Your travel insurance should cover the activities undertaken, medical and personal accident risks, repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services and cancellation and curtailment from the date you confirm your booking with us. We also recommend that you take out insurance which includes baggage cover.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Bed and Breakfast

Breakfast is included at all stages of your trip.

Packed Lunches

These are not included but can be ordered from most establishments, provided that you order upon arrival. Alternatively, on most days there are cafes, shops or restaurants where you can buy lunch on route. Your accommodation host will be able to advise you on this.

Evening Meals

These are not included but are available locally at all stages. We recommend booking your dinner reservations in advance to ensure you get a table.

Dietary/Medical Requirements

Please advise the accommodation owners on arrival if you are vegetarian, vegan or have any other special dietary requirements.

Accommodation Bookings

Since your accommodation has been booked on your behalf by Wilderness Scotland, it may be necessary to quote our name as a reference on arrival at your accommodation.

Important – Late Arrivals

Accommodation providers ask walkers to telephone them to advise if they intend to arrive any later than 1800 hrs. Walkers who do not arrive at their intended overnight stop will cause grave concern in respect of safety, so co‐ operation in this matter is greatly appreciated. Contact phone numbers for all of your accommodations are provided in this pack.

Cancellation

If you decide that you cannot continue your walk, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can contact the establishments concerned.

Credit Cards

The majority of establishments will accept credit cards (Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted but not Diners or American Express).

Insurance

Our aim is for you to have the best experience possible whilst in Scotland. We are aware that unforeseen circumstances can be quite challenging so our advice to all of our guests is to take out relevant insurance to help make things less of a challenge if the unforeseen happens.

If travelling from a European country outside the UK your insurance policy should include medical cover, curtailment, sickness & injury cancellation prior to the trip and personal accident cover. We also strongly recommend you have cover for other travel and personal effects.

If travelling from within the UK, we recommend you are insured for personal sickness & injury cancellation prior to the trip and any travel insurance you feel appropriate to your needs.

If travelling from further afield, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc it is best to research insurance locally to cover all your travel and medical needs.

WALKING ROUTE NOTES

All routes are undertaken entirely at your own risk. Ensure you are properly equipped with sufficient food, suitable footwear and wind and waterproof outdoor clothing. Take the relevant Map with you and familiarise yourself with the use of a compass and bring this with you at all times. Please leave brief details of your intended route and anticipated return time with your accommodation hosts. Please confirm with them that you have returned safely at the end of your day.

All route timings are calculated on the time we would expect a reasonably fit person to complete the route with minimal stops. Please allow longer if you intend to relax and enjoy the views to the full, or if you feel your fitness levels are lower.

These route notes are intended as helpful guidance only. You should be experienced in reading maps and using a compass prior to undertaking any walks in upland areas or remote coastal locations. You must use your judgment in order to decide whether the suggested daily route is within your capabilities, giving careful consideration to the wind and weather conditions on the day. You are solely responsible for your own safety and well‐being in wilderness areas and you must undertake all walks at your own risk.

While we will do everything we possibly can to assist you in the unfortunate event of any accident or mishap, Wilderness Scotland Ltd will accept no responsibility for any accident or injury sustained during the course of your self‐guided walking holiday.

Important Contact Numbers Read More

Wilderness Scotland Office | 9:00am – 5:30pm Monday – Friday

UK: +44 (0)1479 420 020
US: 866 740 3890

Out of Office Hours | 5:30pm – 9:00am

+44 (0)7766 794 640
Please only use this number for matters that cannot wait until the office is open again.