walkhighlands

Mizzly day for Newtonmore to Aviemore

Date walked: 15/08/2023

Time taken: 1 day

Distance: 33km

Ascent: 303m

Speyside Way
Section: Newtonmore - Aviemore
Distance: 33 km
Moving time: 5 h 12

After living within spitting distance of the Speyside Way for over 10 years, and nursing a desire to do some long distance walks without having the planning skills to actually book anything, I've decided to start chipping away at sections of this route.

This morning I was up early if not bright, and drove to Aviemore ready to catch the 8:40am bus to Newtonmore, as suggested on the Stagecoach website. On arrival at the bus stop though, it turned out that this bus doesn't exist (thanks Stagecoach...). After deliberating catching the train instead (but deterred by it being over twice the price, and landing me further from the official "start") I finally hopped on the quiet Newtonmore double-decker at 9.:40am, and after some entertainment from 4 senior ladies who charmed the driver into dropping them off right at the folk museum, I hopped off in the centre of Newtonmore and visited the marker for the start of the Speyside Way.

SW start.JPG
At the start point


The first section of the walk followed the pavement then the cycle path all the way to Kingussie, the only excitement being a freshly dead partridge in the middle of the cycle track. A quick examine showed it was in pin feather and I didn't much fancy carrying it all day when the weather was so warm so I put it over into the field, where it could go back to nature without putting scavengers at risk from traffic. From Kingussie I turned along the Ruthven road, feeling slightly sketchy when on a single track road with a tractor bouncing towards me, but fairly quickly onto a separate path again. Some gorgeous cows with half-grown calves in adjoining fields which looked very picturesque with the barracks in the background.

SW Cows and Ruthven.JPG
Pretty coos


After passing through the nature reserve and crossing the river, the path headed up into the forest. My knee was giving me a little bit of gyp and as the path became hillier I unfolded my walking poles - something I'm trying to get better at using. I was pleasantly surprised how good the trail was, and it was well marked too, with only a couple of moments of doubt on my part. It is a little confusing that the Badenoch Way follows some but not all of the same route, and the points where the two deviate are not necessarily clear. Once I learnt to follow "straight ahead unless otherwise directed", then life was easier!

SW birch arch.JPG
Nice corridor of birch


Passing some cute houses, the mizzle morphed into a real shower and I took shelter under a patch of trees, soon joined by a cyclist. Thankfully it was shortlived and we soon continued on our separate ways. Uath Lochans brought the busiest section of the walk, with lots of tourists enjoying the scenery. I stopped for some lunch on a handy rock beyond the car park, before a rather monotonous section running alongside the road.

SW glenfeshie.JPG
Great views across to Glenfeshie


Loch Insh Watersports was a welcome stop for cake and a double espresso - my tiny wee travel cup drew some good comments as always! I sat by the loch and enjoyed the sun which was breaking through, after a grey morning. Kincraig to Speybank was perhaps the most poorely signed section, but knowing I was sandwiched between the river and the railway I didn't worry too much.

SW insulting bridge sign.JPG
Felt this was a bit insulting to the poor bridge...


Spent a few minutes trying to catch up with a funny looking fritillary near Dalraddy, scuppered by a passing train which spooked it (I don't think it can have been anything except a funny looking Dark Green Fritillary, but it seemed to have a lot of white on it) then met Hen by Alvie Forest Foods for the last section into Aviemore. Lots of raspberries and even some blackberries to be eaten.

SW funny frit.JPG
Fritillary... but what sort?


Rounded off the day by returning to Dalraddy for Hen's car, and more importantly dinner - BBQ brisket loaded fries for me and Venison loin with chanterelle gravy and mash for Hen. Sore feet but a lovely day and first section complete.

Bird species seen/heard: Mallard, Buzzard, Oystercatcher, Wood pigeon, GS woodpecker, Swallow, House martin, Meadow pipit, Pied wagtail, Robin, Stonechat, Willow warbler, Wren, Goldcrest, Great tit, Blue tit, Coal tit, Starling, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, House sparrow, Crow, Jay, Jackdaw.

Butterflies seen: Speckled wood, Peacock, Scotch argus, Dark green fritillary.

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Andiprobert


Mountain: Braeriach
Place: Boat of Garten

Munros: 21
Corbetts: 5



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Statistics

2023

Trips: 1
Distance: 33 km
Ascent: 303m


Joined: Aug 17, 2016
Last visited: Mar 28, 2024
Total posts: 1 | Search posts