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With all the grey skies and rain we've had lately I'm needing a fix of blue skies and sun. It's also time I got the Speyside Way written up, which at times seems to take more effort than walking it!
We left one car at Ballindalloch, parked the other at Allachie Park, Craigellachie, and followed the sign under the road towards the river.
River Spey
Bend in the river
This stretch of the Way follows the line of the old Strathspey railway and every so often something reminds you of that.
Large retaining wall and metal barricade
The line passes through farmland
It's also fishing country
Fishermans lodge
Landing net
Of all the sections of the SSW this is the one that runs closest to the river, much to the delight of the dog.
No fishing going on so let Keira in for a swim
Line of old railway
Aberlour station, now a cafe, toilets and information centre (closed due to covid)
Aberlour burial ground and St Drostan's Church, dating back to medieval times
Rosebay willowherb or fireweed
As a child I remember my mother saying how quickly fireweed spread over waste ground like WW2 bomb sites, which is maybe how it got that name.
Ripening crop
Dalmunach Distillery
Knockando Distillery
The Strathspey railway served the numerous distilleries that operated in the Spey Valley, many of these distilleries having their own small tank engines, or 'pugs' as they were known. It closed to passenger use in 1965 and a few years later to the whisky trains as well. Much of the unused line was then converted into the Speyside Way which opened in 1981. Many of the stone-built station buildings still exist today with some converted for private use, while others are near derelict.
Tamdhu station
Blacksboat station
Pitchroy House
The Spey again
Fishing hut
Iron-box bridge over the Spey
Like one of our previous labs, Keira is wary of bridges and adopts a crab style walk to cross.
Keira crossing gingerly
We thoroughly enjoyed this section with its attractive old stations and good level walking, but most of all for its proximity to the Spey, showing it off at its most splendid on this glorious late summer's day.
