The second stage of the Dava Way begins from Dava, just north of the highest point on the route. It crosses empty moorland at first before reaching the Divie Viaduct, perhaps the highlight of the route; from here the landscape becomes increasingly pastoral.
Summary
Level walking on old railway line. Surface is mostly good but with sharp stones on some sections and muddy in some cuttings.
Terrain
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1. There is space to park on the grassy verge of the A940 just south of the county boundary sign for Moray and opposite a track. To join the Dava Way, take this track heading east. After 50 metres a signpost indicates the place to turn left onto a path into the woods. This winds through the trees and then briefly follows a fenceline to leave the trees between two large wooden posts. Continue across the pasture (waymarkers) to gain the line of the old railway. Here turn left; when the route meets a track pass to the left side of the little cottage; there are sometimes livestock here so keep any dogs under close control. As the track goes off to the left keep straight on, following the old railway line. The trees are soon left behind as the route runs across the open moor.
2. The line curves round to the right to pass below the eastern slopes of the Knock of Braemory, a rounded, heathery hill. Further on the route passes through a gate and reaches a softer, more wooded landscape to the east of the abandoned farmhouse of Bogeny, seen over to the left after around 5km from Dava.
3. Further on the line is breifly lined by old Scots pines before another moorland stretch leads to a cutting through Bantrach wood. Continue straight ahead across a track and very soon the Divie Viaduct is reached. The symbol of the Dava Way, the viaduct is an impressive structure, with seven arches and 145 metres and 52 metres high. Built in the 1860s it cost over £10,000 and still today gives great views down to the River Divie far below.
4. Just beyond the viaduct a bench gives an opportunity for a break. The Way passes to the right of some buildings and then continues for a further kilometre, where a marker post in a birchwood indicates a turn off the old railway to the right; this avoids passing through the old Dunphail station which is now a private house. Keep left in the woods at the next marker to return to the line on the far side. Go left again at the Dava Way information board to reach the picnic area and new car park at Dunphail. The road is on the far side of the wooden hall.
Next stage: Dunphail to Forres
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