The Wildcat Trail is an orbital route around Newtonmore taking in the banks of the River Spey, open heather moorland, wooded glens and burbling streams. The Trail can either be walked as a whole or in sections as there are various paths linking the Trail to different start points in Newtonmore. Further information can be found in the WildCat Centre on Newtonmore high street.
Summary
A waymarked trail over varied terrain including some short steep sections, but all on clear paths.
Terrain
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1. There is limited parking near the Station at Newtonmore. From the station walk back along Station Road for a very short distance past a row of railway cottages. Turn left along the side wall of the last cottage and then left again, before you reach the community park, to head towards the railway line. Take care crossing the level crossing and follow the Wildcat Trail signs to cross a field until the river is reached. Here turn right crossing a stile and then follow the path as it skirts the river bank. In a short while the path heads inland to avoid an area prone to flooding.
2. Soon the path passes under the railway bridge and the confluence of the two rivers, the Spey and the Calder coming in from the right can be seen. The path passes under the main road bridge and crosses a stile. There are good views of the Creag Dubh climbing crag ahead. Keep following the well marked path alongside the Calder, passing through a fairly dense thicket of trees at one point. A diversion inland for a short while avoids an area where flooding has eroded the bank. Soon the path climbs up to cross the road at Calder Bridge.
3. After crossing the road, turn left through a gate marked with the Wildcat sign. Quickly a second gate is reached, turn right after the gate onto a path along the riverbank. Banchor Cemetery can be seen on the right, the site of an early Christian sect dedicated to St Bride. Pass through a small gate and climb steeply following the narrow path. A seat part way up gives good views over the surrounding countryside. The path climbs again and then undulates on the steep side looking down at the River Calder as it forces its way through a narrow section. A path just before another seat leads down to a good spot for viewing the river, although you do have to climb back up to regain the path! Soon the path leads into more open countryside, passing through another small gate.
4. Keep following the waymarks as the path heads away from the river uphill in a diagonal direction. Here there are good views up the Banchor glen and a seat and metal plaque showing the view. The curve of the river is clear here showing how the upper glen got its name which means, a horn-shaped reach of river. Turn right onto Glen Road. Soon a marker post is reached, turn left here to head into Milton Wood. The first section is larch pole plantation, although a little further in the area has been felled to allow regeneration of native species. Turn right at a sign and pass through the felled area where young pines and birch can be seen amongst the heather. From the wood turn left heading downhill on Glen Road. Pass a small house on the right and soon turn left up a track marked for Moss Cottage.
5. Once past the buildings go through a gate and continue straight ahead on a faint track. Ahead there are good views of the surrounding hills. Pass through birch woods and keep following the marker posts through a number of pedestrian gates. The open moorland on the left is breeding ground for red grouse, curlews and peewits. There is also the chance of seeing buzzards, deer and mountain hares. New native woodland has been planted on the right hand side. The trail crosses a number of corridors with gates on either side which have been left between sections of new plantings to allow crofters to move livestock between the upper and lower grazings. In the second of these sections there is a signed diversion, just to the right of the Katie Calder memorial seat, to the site of a Pictish stone circle. After the last plantation cross the small footbridge and turn left and then right following Wildcat marker posts. The stone sheepfank used by Strone croft can be seen on the left. The trail crosses grazing land and past a sign explaining the remains of the corn mill and other buildings that once made up the thriving crofting township of Strone.
6. Continue on the trail, crossing gates, to walk down the side of the Allt Laraidh (mare's burn) falls. Cross the small stream on the right by way of the footbridge and climb up the bank and pass through the gate. Follow the path as it follows the Allt Laraidh. At one point there is a diversion because of flooding and it is necessary to climb up the bank and descend steeply to skirt an eroded section - care needs to be taken. The river path soon reaches the main road where you turn right into a layby and then soon up a small slope and through a kissing gate onto a narrow path through woodland. This path follows the line of the main road and then joins the pavement. Follow the pavement until opposite the first houses of Newtonmore on the other side of the road. Cross the road and follow the side track between the houses signed for the Wildcat Trail. The trail passes between sections of the excellent Highland Folk Museum, continue straight ahead and over the railway bridge. After the bridge go through a gate and follow the path between the fence and a stream. Cross a small footbridge and turn right keeping the golf course on the right and the River Spey on the left. This area is home to herons, wagtails, sandpipers, dippers, mergansers and goosander. It is also known for its native orchids which flower between late May and June. Continue along the river until the fence which marks the end of the golf course. Just before the stile turn right to retrace the outward route back to the station.
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