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Castle Roy circuit, Nethy Bridge

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This figure-of-eight walk from Nethy Bridge follows a variety of paths and passes the ruins of Castle Roy, a thirteenth century fortress. The bridge linking the two loops may be closed at present - making the route possible only as two separate walks.

Terrain

Waymarked footpaths, muddy in parts; fair amount of up and down

Public Transport

Buses from Aviemore and Grantown.

Start

Balnagowan Wood car park, Nethy Bridge. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

Users' reports

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Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Walk Statistics

Distance: 5.5km / 3.5 miles
Time: 1.5 hours
Ascent: 95m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NJ009207

Maps, App and GPS

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Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

Park in Balnagowan woods car park, which are reached from the bridge over the Nethy via the road through the north side of Nethy Bridge, and turning left in the settlement of Causer. The car park is on the left just after the last houses. A network of eight waymarked trails have been set up in Nethy Bridge; this walk follows just one of them. Another is the Riverside and Dell woods circuit; for details of the others visit the Abernethy Room at the Nethy Bridge community centre. Begin the walk by leaving the car park and crossing the road and going through the kissing gate. Three trails begin here; almost all the route is waymarked with the Castle symbol; it begins by continuing straight ahead through the woods, parallel with the back gardens of some of the houses of Causer.

Stage 2

At the corner of the last garden the path keeps straight ahead, crossing a small wooden bridge. and keeps left when it is joined by a larger path coming in from the village. Continue ahead until you almost reach a minor road; the path keeps left here in the woods, parallel to the road for quite some distance. Pass through an informal turning area and keep ahead on the path parallel to the road until a marker post indicates a left turn back away from the road into the woods. Just after passing a small boggy area (a lochan on maps), turn right as waymarked. The path continues and eventually meets a minor road at a stile.

Stage 3

Head straight across the minor road onto a track, and turn right at the next track 't' junction - as waymarked. After a short distance, look out for the marker indicating a turn onto a path to the left. This passes alongside an obstacle course and crosses a footbridge over the burn. The path becomes more open as it swings left and then ascends to reach a white cottage. Turn left through a gate, passing to the immediate left of the cottage and onto its drive. Continue straight ahead to reach a road near a church. Turn right along a path that runs parallel to the road, giving views of the ruins of Castle Roy on the other side. The ruins are unsafe and in a field, so it is best to see them from the path.

Stage 4

Eventually the path reaches a track turning right into the woods - follow this. Ignore a marked turning to the left - that route eventually leads through to Grantown on Spey. Instead keep uphill on the main track, which curves round to the right. After almost a kilometre look out for a red arrow pointing to a small path on the right - take this path, passing through the woods close to some white cottages. As the path descends there are glimpses of the huge Aultmore house to the left. The path turns left (red marker) just before a farm gate, and instead goes through a foot-gate before heading right between a wall and a fence. It then keeps above a bank before emerging by the white cottage reached earlier before the visit to Castle Roy. Turn left, retracing your outward route over the bridge, and keeping right onto the track.

Stage 5

When you reach the 't' junction by a chalet where you came in from the left earlier, keep straight on (signed 'Village'). At the road, go straight ahead along the tarmac, and further on a marker indicates turn left into the woods. The path runs close to the fence of the local school - turn right at a path junction (waymarker). Pass over a tiny bridge and go through a kissing gate. The path from here has been improved for children on their way to school; follow the made-up path which runs parallel to the road back to Nethy Bridge. Just before the houses, go right and cross the road to the car park at the start.

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Travel and Coronavirus

Castle Roy circuit, Nethy Bridge

Terrain

Public Transport

Start

Users' reports

Walk Statistics

Maps, App and GPS

Get route in Viewranger - the
Walkhighlands app for offline use

Does your firm want to sponsor this route?

Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Enjoyed this walk route or find Walkhighlands useful?

Route Profile

Travel and Coronavirus

Castle Roy circuit, Nethy Bridge

Terrain

Public Transport

Start

Users' reports

Walk Statistics

Maps, App and GPS

Get route in Viewranger - theWalkhighlands app for offline use

Does your firm want to sponsor this route?

Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Enjoyed this walk route or find Walkhighlands useful?

Route Profile

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Get route in Viewranger - the
Walkhighlands app for offline use