The Isla Way: Dufftown to Keith

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The Isla Way links the distillery towns of Dufftown and Keith, taking a varied route of woodland, minor roads and field paths. This is a linear walk, but there is a heritage railway link between Dufftown and Keith on summer weekends, and a bus on weekdays; check timetables before setting off. The route can be shortened by ending at Drummuir.

Terrain

Minor roads, tracks, good paths, some tussocks. 3km stretch along fast B9014 road with no verge.

Public Transport

Bus to Dufftown and Keith; Keith also has a railway station. The towns are linked by a heritage railway.

Start

Dufftown Square (or Dufftown station nr Glenfiddich distillery). Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Officially the Isla Way starts in Dufftown Square, though those planning on making use of the heritage railway may instead start from the station. From the Square, head east along the A920 towards Huntly. After just over 400m, turn left (signed Isla Way) up onto a path that crosses grassland before emerging between houses onto Mount Crescent. Keep right along this street to a t-junction with Mount Street. Here turn right then almost immediately left. At the end of the street continue ahead on a track then path that soon descends into woodland. Before this emerges onto a road, turn sharp left, then right at the next path junction to cross a field with views to Balvenie Castle. Pass around the house to the right, then follow the tarred road to the left that drops down past the castle.

Stage 2

Go left at the t-junction, passing the Glenfiddich Distillery visitor centre and reaching the main A941. Turn right along this. On both sides of the road are warehouses of maturing whisky barrels. Continue for 500m until the car park for the Dufftown - Keith railway is reached on the right - the best place to start the walk if planning on using the train. Head onto the platform, and then continue the walk by turning left, following the path beside the railway at first, passing a new sidings shed and then heading onto the disused part of the line.

Stage 3

Keep straight ahead across a track, and continue past the Convalmore Distillery. Pass through a gate to continue along the former railway line until a signed junction. The route ahead leads eventually to Craigellachie and the Speyside Way, but our route turns right (signed Isla Way to Lochpark and Drummuir). Follow the path downhill, straight ahead both another path and a minor road at the bottom, to cross a suspension footbridge over the River Fiddich. On the far side bear left to join a track that leads up to a minor road. Turn right along this, then left at the next road junction, climbing uphill past Tullich House.

Stage 4

The next stretch of road is fairly long but quiet, and climbs to give good views back over the rolling countryside. After a little over 1km it runs alongside forestry; keep along it for almost another 1.5km until a signed track forks right. Take this track, running alongside and then through the woods before descending and becoming tarred as it bends to the left to drop down to the Lochpark Adventure Centre. Keep straight ahead when the road bends right here, passing to the left of the whitewashed adventure centre building, to join a good path. When a track is met at a fork, take the left branch over the stone bridge.

Stage 5

At the next junction, keep ahead on a track, heading downhill. Further on a marker post indicates where to turn left onto a path through the woods; keep ahead across another track, with the Drummuir walled garden over to the left. Follow the signed footpath as it curves right to cross a bridge and then left over a second bridge to reach a car park at Botriphnie Kirk. Follow the drive to the right to meet a road. Drummuir Station - on the Dufftown and Keith heritage line that only operates on certain days - is just to the right here, and can be used to shorten the route. Otherwise, turn left along the road.

Stage 6

Keep right past the gatehouse for Drummuir Castle (used for corporate entertaining by Diageo, who own several distilleries in the area). At the next junction, where the road bends left, take the grassy track ahead next to the bench, signed for the Isla Way. The track can be overgrown in high summer, running at first beside woodland and then between fields. Keep ahead over another track, then ahead again as a better track is joined, passing a house before emerging on a minor road below Burnpark Wood. Turn right along the road.

Stage 7

Follow the road as it bends right and then continues downhill to eventually reach the main B9014 Dufftown to Keith road. Turn left along this; traffic is not too heavy, but the road is wide and fast so great care is needed on the next section; always face the oncoming traffic. The road is followed for 2km, passing the old Mill of Towie; this now houses a cafe. Continue along the road over the Bridge of Auchindachy, then take the next track on the right (beside a whitewashed building), signed for Newton of Auchindachy. At the track climbs to the right, leave it and instead head up and through an iron gate to follow a neglected, now tussocky old grassy track. This climbs uphill beside telegraph poles before reaching a gate and joining a wider track. Continue ahead along this, and keep ahead again when the track joins a minor road.

Stage 8

Keep ahead along the road, descending and passing the farm at Coldhome. After another 1km, keep right (signed Keith Square) to follow the road round a bend, but then turn left (Keith Square, Old Brig) onto a narrow, little used track. This keeps high above the River Isla to emerge in a housing estate on the edge of Keith. If heading for the heritage rail station, keep ahead here, but the Isla Way turns right up the street. Follow the road when it bends to the left, then take the next right onto Chapel Street. Keep ahead along this, passing the church, to reach Reidhaven Square - the heart of Keith.

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The Isla Way: Dufftown to Keith

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