Speyside Way 1: Buckie to Fochabers

Summary

The first stage of the Speyside Way is very varied, with a walk past old Buckpool harbour and along the coastline to Portgordon followed by an old-railway line and woodland stretch to reach the beautiful mouth of the Spey. The route then heads inland on tracks through woods and fields, with the mighty Spey never far away, before ending in the very fine small town of Fochabers.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Coastal path with some pavement sections, then tracks and paths through woods and fields. Some sections can flood resulting in temporary diversions; short sections can be wet.

Public Transport

Buckie and Fochabers are both well served by buses.

Start

Cluny Square, Buckie. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 17.5km / 11 miles
Time: 4 - 4.5 hours
Ascent: 65m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NJ425655

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Accommodation

Moray hostels

Walk Description

User reports (4)

Stage 1

The Speyside Way now begins at Cluny Square in the centre of Buckie. Start along the road that descends northwards towards the sea, past the impressive war memorial. At the road junction turn left - signed A990 to Portgordon. Once round the bend you can fork to the right, avoiding the main road, and passing through the old fishermans district known as the Yardie, a conservation area. The houses here still have drying greens and clothes lines facing the sea. Follow the lane left to rejoin the main road and turn right to continue along it. The road crosses the Buckie Burn; beyond this fork right. Fork right again off the tarred lane onto a path nearer the sea.

Stage 2

Pass several houses on the seaward side and head between two white posts, continuing until a Speyside Way thistle logo sign indicates where you head back left past a bench and along the main road (to the right) again for a brief distance. Fork right again to pass behind the next group of houses. Buckpool, the western part of Buckie, is now left behind. Follow the path as it bears left between boulders and then heads straight across a track to reach a derelict house. Continue on the path along the flat coastal area; it eventually rejoins the main road again to pass one house, becoming a path on the right once more just beyond. Keep an eye on the rocky shoreline which is a haunt of both grey and common seals. The path becomes a track at another derelict building and then keeps just to the right of the houses of Portgordon.

Stage 3

At a T-junction go right and then left at the harbour, still home to just a few fishing boats. Continue straight ahead along the seafront when the main road heads inland, and then at the end of the houses follow the road as it bends left and then right. Shortly afterwards the Speyside Way goes left to join the old railway line, at first parallel to the road and then passing beneath it. Keep straight ahead along this 1.5km until it reaches a farm track; turn right to follow the path parallel to this. It then turns left across it to head through the forestry. The route heads right and then left through the trees; parts of this section are prone to flooding so take care to follow any signs and diversions.

Stage 4

The route bends right to avoid meeting the road and then right again to emerge from the woods and pass through the gorse behind several houses. It then bends left to reach the road near a concrete tower; turn right along the tarmac. The road bends left; continue along it to the car park at the end, by the ice-house. This once stored ice to pack salmon landed here before it was sent to market in London and elsewhere; there is now a Wildlife Visitor centre here and a fine Osprey Sculpture. Pass around the far side of the ice-houses and then double back along the other side of them, running past the back of several cottages before turning right onto a track (all waymarked).

Stage 5

There are views of the Spey at first before the track continues alongside the Alder woodland of the river mouth. The course of this part of the river is still constantly shifting - the untamed Spey is Britain's largest semi-natural river. Ignore a track off to the left and continue ahead, soon crossing the cycle-way that leads over the old Spey viaduct. Keep straight ahead at this and more junctions, eventually joining a larger track which comes in from the left. Shortly after this the route forks; keep left and then ahead when a track joins from the right. The power of the Spey is well demonstrated further on where a section of the track has been completely washed away. At the time of writing a bumpy temporary diversion leads off to the left -pay attention to the waymarkers, soon turning right and then rejoining a proper track which is followed directly ahead.

Stage 6

Keep ahead again at the next junction and then turn right after passing a metal barrier, then almost immediately left up a ramp onto a path which runs along above the Spey. After a bench this heads back into the woods; keep straight ahead until the path leads under the A96 road bridge, and then under the old bridge just beyond. Keep straight on by the river until a drive is joined which leads through a garden planted in memory of 'Famous Fochaberians'. At a sign post ignore the footbridge and turn left to follow a path beside the Fochabers burn. Continue straight across a road; if heading for the centre of Fochabers the square is signed down George Street, the next on the left.

Next stage: Fochabers to Craigellachie

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