Walk from the sea to the Cairngorm Mountains on the Speyside Way and our own selected hill paths. The newest section of the Speyside Way opens in April 2000, and you can walk the entire route with Make Tracks, atarting from Easter 2000. This walk offers the chance to experience so much of what Scotland has to offer visitors. The route takes you through all types of countryside from the open coastlands, through farm and forest in the Tweed valley (which, with its tributaries, provides the clear water for making whisky), and over high mountain passes towards the wilderness of the Cairngorm Mountains.

Each part of the walk has its own distinct wildlife and points of interest, and it perfectly suits walkers who want to build up gradually from gentle walking to more strenuous climbs. Some of the points on the route are some distance from the best farmhouse or bed and breakfast accommodation, so wearrange for you to be collected and dropped off on the route. Staying with local families in their homes is all part of the experience, and you will always receive the warmest of welcomes. A bonus is the chance to visit distilleries which produce the famous Speyside malt whisky. More details of the route from the Moray Council Ranger Service.

The Route

Day 1	Arrive Buckie	Good bus connections from Inverness or Aberdeen. Daily fish market
Day 2	Buckie to Fochabers (10 miles)	A mixture of coastal and gentle riverside walking
Day 3	Fochabers to Craigellachie (13 miles)	Riverside and forest walks - some uphill stretches.
Day 4	Craigellachie to Ballindalloch (12 miles)	Quiet riverside walk on disused railway line, past several distilleries
Day 5	Ballindalloch to Grantown (13 miles)	Some rougher tracks and some forest tracks
Day 6	Grantown to Boat of Garten (11 miles)	Mostly forest walking in Abernethy bird reserve
Day 7	Boat of Garten to Aviemore	A mixture of birch and pine woodland and heather moor
Day 8	Depart Aviemore	Good train and bus connections to Edinburgh and Inverness

This walk is mainly low level, following the riverside for much of the Way. Make Tracks also organises additional walks which take you into the neighbouring hills. The spur from Ballindalloch to Tomintoul, a stiff climb, is part of the official route. Tomintoul to Nethy Bridge is wild and remote for experienced map readers, and Nethy Bridge to Glenmore goes through tracts of original Caledon forest. Don't worry about transport on any of these walks. Make Tracks will transport you back to your starting point.

Suggested Extra Days

Make Tracks
26 Forbes Road, Edinburgh, Scotland. EH10 4ED.
Telephone: (+44) 131 229 6844
Fax: (+44) 131 229 6808