The Speyside Way - walk from the north sea to the Cairngorm Mountains with Make Tracks. The newest section of the route opened in April 2000, but Make Tracks has helped people walk the Speyside Way and other local hill paths for 10 years.

.The Speyside Way 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 Spey valley (which, with its tributaries, provides the clear water for making whisky), and over high mountain passes towards the wilderness of the Cairngorm Mountains. As an added bonus, the holiday includes a free visit to the famous Glenfiddich Distillery.

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 we arrange 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	Dufftown to Craigellachie (7 miles)	Transfer to Dufftown - free visit to Glenfiddich Distillery - then a gentle walk by the River Fiddich
Day 5	Craigellachie to Ballindalloch (12 miles)	Quiet riverside walk on disused railway line, past several distilleries
Day 6	Ballindalloch to Grantown (13 miles)	Some rougher tracks and some forest tracks
Day 7	Grantown to Boat of Garten (11 miles)	Mostly forest walking in Abernethy bird reserve
Day 8	Boat of Garten to Aviemore	A mixture of birch and pine woodland and heather moor
Day 9	Depart Aviemore	Good train and bus connections to Edinburgh and Inverness

Day 5 (the Dufftown Spur) can easily be omitted from the walk. See below for details of additional days (including the Tomintoul Spur).

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

How to Get There

To Buckie rom Glasgow Airport

From the airport, there are frequent buses to the centre of Glasgow. You should take an airport bus to Queen Street railway station. The fare should be less than £5.00 per person one way. Alternatively a taxi should cost about £20.00. At Queen Street station, buy a ticket for Inverness at the station. There are normally 9 trains daily (only 4 on Sundays), and the cost is £33.00 one way. From Inverness railway station, walk for 5 minutes to the bus station at Farraline Park. Leave by the main exit, and follow the signs for the bust station, turning right and right again where the bus station will be on your left. From here Stagecoach run services numbers 10 and 315 (some change at Elgin). There are buses every hour or so, and the journey usually takes just over 2 hours. On Sundays, no buses run direct to Buckie, so you should take a train from Inverness to Elgin, then take the bus or a local taxi to Buckie. For timetable details, please refer to the timetables published by the local Council, or contact us at Make Tracks.

To Buckie from Edinburgh Airport

From the airport take an airport bus to Waverley railway station in the centre of Edinburgh. The fare should be less than £5.00. Alternatively, a taxi should cost about £15.00 - £20.00. At Waverley station, buy a ticket for Inverness at the station. Three are normally 9 trains daily (only 4 on Sundays). The fare is £34.00 one way. There is also a good bus service from Edinburgh bus station to Inverness. From Inverness follow the directions as above.

By Rail

From any UK railway station, buy a ticket for Inverness. On arrival at Inverness, follow the directions above. Timetables are published by First Scotrail - or contact us at Make Tracks.

By Car

Most road from the south will come to the southern end of the A9, near Stirling. From here, follow signs for Inverness. On approaching Inverness, exit onto the A96 signposted for Nairn and Aberdeen. Follow this road through Nairn and Elgin, and on to Fochabers (about 48 miles after Inverness). At Fochabers, go through the village to the mini-roundabout and go ahead onto the A98. Follow this road through the junction with the A990, and follow the signs for Fraserburgh, still on the A98. After a further 2.5 miles, you reach the junction with the A942. Turn left onto the A942, signposted for Buckie, which you will reach one mile later.

From Aviemore

Trains and buses head south from Aviemore railway station for Edinburgh and Glasgow at the same frequency as noted above. If travelling by car, head south on the A9 towards Stirling and beyond.

By Post: -
Make Tracks Walking Holidays
26 Forbes Road,
Edinburgh
Scotland. UK
EH10 4ED.