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

Bog Factor

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.

Getting there

Start

Cluny Square, Buckie.

Public Transport

Buckie and Fochabers are both well served by buses.

Start Grid Ref

NJ425655

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Services

Buckie is a town with all facilities. There is a cafe at Spey Bay. Fochabers is a small town but still with shops and a choice of places to eat and stay.

Walk Statistics

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

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Walk Description

User reports (4)

Stage 1

Beginning from Cluny Square, the centre of Buckie, start by heading along the road that descends northwards towards the sea. At the junction turn left - signed A990 to Portgordon. Once round the bend you can fork to the right, avoiding the main road, 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 until it rejoins the main road and turn right to continue along it. The road crosses the Buckie Burn; shortly after this take the path on the right. You can then either stay on the tarred lane (official route) or use the parallel path on your right, nearer the sea.

Stage 2

After passing the houses on the seaward side keep ahead to pass between two white posts, continuing until the route bears left to rejoin the main road. Keep right along it briefly, then go right off it 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. Continue on the path along the flat coastal area; eventually you are forced to rejoin the main road again to pass one house; take the path on the right again just beyond it. Keep an eye on the rocky shoreline which is a haunt of both grey and common seals. The path eventually becomes a track and then keeps just to the right of the houses of Portgordon. When the harbour is reached turn left; it is still home to just a few fishing boats.

Stage 3

You are now back on the main road; when it turns left keep straight ahead on a minor road along the seafront. 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 for 1.5km until it reaches a farm track just before an old railway arch; turn right on a path parallel to thuis, then left across it to head into 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 with cafe 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. The route rejoins the riverbank for a while, before reaching a section demonstrating the power of the river as the original path has been completely washed away. Instead the route keeps left and leaves the river, following somewhat muddy tracks through Warren Wood.

Stage 6

Keep ahead again at the next junction and then turn right at a t-junction with a track, 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.

Stage 7

Keep straight on by the river until a drive is joined which leads through a garden planted in memory of 'Famous Fochaberians'. Keep on the main drive until a footbridge is reached - don't cross, instead turning 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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