1. The walk is described from Nairn High Street, outside the clock-towered court building. Head up the street (south), soon turning left onto Church Street. After 200 metres, turn left again, this time onto Church Road, following it down to the old cemetery where the original church in Nairn stood for hundreds of years. Pass round the cemetery to the left to gain the banks of the River Nairn, and then turn right upstream. The path soon passes under the tall railway bridge. Further on there is a path junction; Jubilee footbridge is on the left, but for this walk continue ahead. The path soon leaves the football pitch area and comes closer to the river once more.

2. Continue on the riverside path until reaching Firhall bridge, a narrow concrete footbridge. Cross this and then turn right (signed as the riverside path to Cawdor) on the far side to continue the walk upstream. After another kilometre and a half the path emerges on a minor road below Howford Bridge. Bear right to reach a junction but don't cross the bridge - go straight ahead onto a grassy path (again signed for Cawdor).

3. The path soon heads down to the river and crosses a bridge over a stream and then follows a clear route through the trees. At times the wide river comes into view, the slower bends and pools are popular with fly fisherman. Eventually the path passes through a gap in a fence and continues through thick trees until it reaches Graeme's pool named after a keen angler who died at the age of 14.

4. The path now comes away from the river and there are good views over the countryside to the right. Soon the path is following an old stony ridge with broom either side. The strange yurt-shaped huts in the adjacent fields are modern-day pig sties. Where a track comes in from the left, cross it, keeping straight ahead.

5. Eventually go through a kissing gate and follow the path near the river, where it can be impassable when the river is in flood or muddy after wet weather. At a crossroads of paths keep straight ahead following the white arrow and very soon turn left when the path joins a track. At a fork keep left on the track through pine trees. Soon the river splits and the path continues alongside the Cawdor Burn heading upstream, there is a picnic table here. During a very straight section of path look out for the signed turn to the left, this short section of path brings you out in Cawdor. Turn right at the road to visit the Castle or Village Green tea shop.

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