Speyside Way 5: Grantown-on-Spey to Boat of Garten

Summary

This is an easy-going section of the Speyside Way, following the old railway line as far as Nethy Bridge, where there is a cafe and shop, and then nature reserve woodland to Boat of Garten. It is possible to take a short detour from the route to visit the RSPB Loch Garten Nature Centre where there are live cameras of nearby nesting osprey in the summer months.

Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Clear path, mostly level on old railway line, short section of road, with one crossing of busy A95.

Getting there

Start

Grantown on Spey.

Public Transport

Bus service from Grantown, Nethy Bridge and Boat of Garten. Also summer steam railway from Boat of Garten and Broomhill near Nethy Bridge.

Start Grid Ref

NJ032278

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Services

Grantown on Spey is a country town with a range of shops and places to eat, as well as hotels, guest houses, B&B and a campsite. Nethy Bridge has a cafe and a hotel, whilst Boat of Garten also has cafes, a hotel, bed and breakfasts and a hostel.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 17.5km / 11 miles
Time: 4 - 4.5 hours
Ascent: 88m (Profile)

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Walk Description

User reports (3)

Stage 1

If starting from the centre of Grantown, walk along the High Street to the wide section known as The Square and take Forest Road on the east side, opposite the Co-op, signed for the Speyside Way. Carry straight on at the staggered crossroads and pass the golf course before reaching the information panels at the start of this section of the Speyside Way. Walks around the community-managed and red-squirrel haunt, Anagach Woods also start from here. Aim slightly right to pass the boards following the sign for Nethy Bridge and head along the wide path in the woods. Pass a metal gate and continue ahead at a crossroads of paths.

Stage 2

Keep straight on along the main path which follows the route of one of General Wade's old military roads, ignoring a path to the right and left. Soon the road is reached at a small parking area. Turn left onto the road which passes the grand houses of Speybridge and soon cross the old bridge over the wide River Spey.

Stage 3

On the far side turn right and follow the road slightly uphill and when the road bends left keep right to pass a small wooden cottage on the left and go past a metal gate with the roof of the the disused smokehouse visible ahead. Carefully cross the busy A95 and keep straight ahead to follow the route past the entrance to the smokehouse and then follow a path which turns right and skirts the smokehouse boundary and soon reaches the old railway line. Keep on the line of the railway, passing through a number of gates with good views of the Spey in places.

Stage 4

At Balliefurth Farm a track on the right diverts you around the farmyard soon returning to the old railway line just before a bridge. Soon pass information boards about the importance of the traditional meadows here for wildlife - meat from the farm is also available from a shop in Nethy Bridge if you want a taste of the walk afterwards. Balliefurth means the homestead of the ferry, harking back to times when a boat would ferry people across the Spey here to Ballintomb the rallying ground of the local Clan Grant. Cross more open countryside with birch woods on the left and when the house at Balliemore is reached continue straight ahead through the farm gate to cross two bridges and continue on the straight route, with the Cairngorms now visible ahead.

Stage 5

After passing Abernethy golf course on the left, the route runs into the outskirts of Nethy Bridge soon passing the old station which is now a bunkhouse. After the station turn left onto the road soon passing a farm shop, (if wanting to catch the steam train at Broomhill turn right) to reach the main road at the Nethy House cafe. The hotel is on the far side of the road to the left, but the Speyside Way turns right over the bridge where there is a general shop on the left and toilets a short way further up. Take the road towards Boat (right of the shop) initially, then take a path on its left side that runs along the edge of the recreation field. It then crosses a boardwalk; ignore the Birch Wood path on the left and cross a footbridge. Go left at the next junction, then straight ahead at a crossroads of paths. Finally turn right at a t-junction, and then left just before the road onto a path which runs parallel with the road for a short distance.

Stage 6

Turn right and cross the road at the signpost, taking the wide path on the opposite side (keeping straight ahead) through the Abernethy National Nature Reserve, which is famous for its birdlife, particularly crested tits. Bear left at a T junction to continue through the pines, eventually passing a more open area with bogs at the side of the path which teem with dragonflies in summer. The route follows a wide track before heading onto a narrow path where the track bends right. This continues over undulating ground eventually reaching another track and heading downhill before a delightful path leads through woods again.

Stage 7

Eventually the path reaches another path next to the road leading to Loch Garten. If you want to detour to visit the RSPB Loch Garten Nature Centre turn left and follow a the blue waymarked path (approx 30 minutes each way) but return to this spot to pick up the Speyside Way. If continuing direct to Boat of Garten turn right and soon cross the road and keep following the path on the far side which passes a couple of ponds, one with a walkway to view the wildlife. When the path reaches the car park head left along the B970 for a very short distance and then cross it to go through a metal gate on the far side and follow the path which goes right, then curves round to run down the left-hand side of the road leading to Boat of Garten. When the path runs out continue along the road, crossing the bridge over the Spey, and passing the golf club on the left. Turn left at the T junction after going under the railway line to reach the hotel. The village shop and post office is just around the bend on the right.

Next stage: Boat of Garten to Aviemore

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