A beautiful out-and-back walk along a high bank above the River Spey with good views of the Cairngorms and passing through lovely woodland.
Bog Factor
Clear woodland path, steep sides.
Kincraig, limited parking just south of cafe near the phone box.
Bus service (M91) from Aviemore, stops at Kincraig Community Hall.
NH833056
There is a small parking area just down from The Old Post Office Cafe in the centre of Kincraig, next to the phone box. From here head back up the road past the stores and turn right along Speybank Walk. After passing some fine houses the route becomes a track up through the woods. When the track bends left keep straight ahead onto a narrow path through the trees, signed Speybank Walk.
The route runs parallel to a winding new surfaced section of the Speyside Way path which is set back further from the high bank above the river; the two routes meet at several points. Keep straight on when a path joins from the right, and keep right when a fainter path forks off to the left. The Speyside Way path is joined for a section of boardwalk; beyond this leave it again by climbing up a steep bank to reach the top of the ridge overlooking the river.
The Spey is wide here and there are good views down to it at times as well as across the strath to the Cairngorm mountains. Continue along the path, passing a bench (link path to the Speyside Way goes off left here) and a gate, and a mixture of birch and oak trees with a thick carpet of heather and blaeberries underneath. The riverbank can be very steep in places so care is needed with young children.
After a short section of fencing, an old marker stone with a cross carved on it is passed. Keep following the path until eventually a small clearing with a wooden bench is reached. This is a good viewpoint and a lovely spot for a break.
Beyond the bench the path rejoins the Speyside Way. Either turn round to begin the walk back by the same outward path, or instead turn left to follow the Speyside Way back. Once back at Kincraig it is worth exploring the long bridge over the River Spey at the north end of Loch Insh. The bridge was built in 1874 before which a ferry boat ran across the same stretch of water, which lead to the original name of the village which was Boat of Insh.
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