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I'd been working in Grantown, so just had a short drive in the morning to the nice wee parking area at Ballindalloch / Cragganmore which has an information board, toilet and small camping area by the Speyside Way. The weather had been so changeable recently that I'd decided to play safe and stick low level, though as it turned out, it stayed nice for me all the way to Craigellachie and most of the way back. This section is probably my favourite of the Speyside Way legs done so far, I didn't mind at all doing it return to get back to my car! It was clearly marked and never far away from the Spey, mostly following the line of the old railway close to the river.
- Starting point by the Speyside Way information boards
- Clear from the start you're following an old railway line, this the old Cragganmore stop
- Crossing the Spey by way of the impressive iron box bridge
- I wasn't the only one enjoying the sunshine on the Speyside Way today - came across this slow worm sunning itself!
- The trail is on the west side of the river here, looking east to snow capped Ben Rinnes
- Blacksboat is one of the well preserved old railway stations on the route
- Crossing high above one of the tributaries joining the Spey
- The first distillery passed on this leg is Tamdhu ...
- ...which also has another well preserved old railway station a bit further on
- Dalmunach Distillery is the third distillery passed on this route. There were also posters about each of the planets periodically placed on fence posts coming in to / going out of Carron (which I actually found quite interesting, even if nothing to do with Speyside!).
- Crossing back over the Spey, on the Bridge of Carron
- I could have taken a detour through Aberlour village, but I stuck to the trail route which stayed close to the river, continuing on towards Craigellachie
- The trail obviously still follows the old railway to Craigellachie!
- I was nearly at the end of this stage, but I took a short (signposted) detour to see the Category A Listed cast iron arched Thomas Telford bridge, an impressive sight ...
- ...before continuing on to the parking area at Craigellachie and the end of the section. I then turned round and headed all the way back ....but I enjoyed seeing it all for a second time too :)