I’m continuing on my quest to do the Speyside way the wrong way round, so today I walked from Boat of Garten to Cromdale. It was a gorgeous cold, crisp and clear day and minus 6 when we started, so I was very smug that I had packed ice grips and a dog coat in addition to the normal kit. I wasn’t quite so smug when I found at Boat of Garten that I had forgotten the dog’s collar (she had to make to with an extendable lead wrapped around her neck) and...the map! (luckily I live locally and had previously walked the trails that made up this section).

I parked in Cromdale and took the bus to Boat of Garten via Grantown.


The walk from Boat starts alongside the road until you get to the start of Abernethy, where there is a choice of two footpaths, the official Speyside Way path, that runs adjacent to the road, or the second footpath that is much nicer as it takes you through the forest, rejoining the Speyside Way and effectively cutting off the corner. I did stick to the official path but would recommend the forest path to others, it’s very pretty.


The path the crosses the road and splits with one section going to the Osprey Centre, closed at the moment but well worth a look during the summer.


The walk through Abernethy is stunning, with much bird life, squirrels and majestic Scots Pine trees. As we were walking mid-week in the winter, we had the place to ourselves.


There are a few occasions on this walk where the paths are not well signposted. I found that generally, you follow the main path, even if it does not go straight ahead. The only exception was at this point below, where the sign was present, just hidden to the side, where you take the smaller path ahead.


I reached Nethy Bridge (where there is a fantastic cafe, but unfortunately shut today), and followed the path by the old station and onto the old railway line. This section was incredibly icy, and I was glad of my ice grips. Although the railway has not been used since the 1960s, I spotted a funny little building made of railway sleepers, I must research its purpose.


The path is amongst farmland for the majority of this section, but halfway along, the Spey appeared! It was great to see it again.


At the end of this section, you reach the Smokehouse and follow the signs to the Old Spey Bridge in Grantown, where normal folk rest up for the day!


However, we were walking onto Cromdale, and in my wisdom (soon regretted) I decided that rather than walking the proper way through Anagach Woods, I would walk along the Spey, as I love walking by rivers, as as a short cut. A short cut that added a couple of miles, I later discovered! The path here was very icy.


The path passes by a conifer plantation, Scots Pine and a planted oak plantation before the view opens out with fields to the side. On the opposite side of the river, you can see the route of the old railway line built well above the river. I understand that this is walkable although with difficulty. As I was getting near Cromdale the sun was going down.


I reached the end of the riverside path and met the official Speyside Way again and headed over the Spey bridge into Cromdale. A thoroughly enjoyable day.