Speyside Way.....Kincraig - Newtonmore

Walk: Speyside Way

Section: Kincraig - Newtonmore

I wanted the good lady involved today so an obvious walk was another section of the Speyside Way, it really is time I finished this Long Distance route as priorities have changed. This was my final southern section and is a fairly recent addition to route which originally started/ended in Aviemore.

When we started it was the coldest and windiest day of the break by far. Kincraig is a lovely village but the residents don't want you parking in it, took ages to find a place to dump the car.

This must be one of the widest sections of the Spey

Walk started by crossing the River Spey which looks a nice height here compared to other parts of the river that I have seen recently. As always it seems with these long distance routes there is a mixture of signage. Some is the traditional Speyside Way marking posts but initially it is the Badenoch Way. I suspect most the Badenoch Way is now the add on to the Speyside Way route which extended it.

Insh water sports centre

The trees are overflowing with berries, hard winter ahead?

After the roadside section it is good to enter a wooded section albeit still near the road. Watersport centre is busy lots of kids shouting from their boats out on the water.

Speyside Way (nor Badenoch Way!!)

There was a lot of this

Very quiet en route through the trees only the odd cyclist to look out for. After about an hour the good lady headed back to the car with the plan for her to drive to Kingussie and meet up with me somewhere near the Barracks.

One of the Uath Lochans

The middle section is fully in the pine woods, lots of undulations and a few steep ascents enough to get my breathing heavier. A pretty lochan section where a number of cars and dog walkers around for a few minutes, but mainly same old.

After this the trail descends and for a long spell is simply a narrow trail passing isolated crofts and houses, some quite stunning. A mixture of run down cottages and stunning new/rebuilds. There are now views forward to Creag Dubh near Newtonmore, another that has been on my list for too long, need to sort that out. To my right are the Kingussie Corbetts whose estate tracks are such a scar that they are visible from the moon I suspect. However, I do have fond memories of seeing large numbers of mountain hares up there plus a camera disaster but that's another story.

The only damp section encountered

The occasional flash of colour in the woods alerted me that despite my trail being very quiet there were people around but not doing the same as me, wonder what they are up to as map shows no obvious paths?

First for ages

Hope it hadn't been nibbling on the nearby magic mushrooms

Just before I exited the woods I got an excellent red squirrel sighting, it has been ages since I saw one so delighted. My poor eyesight saw something dark against the bark of the tree so unsure I stopped. I was surprised at how dark its tail really was.

River Tromie falls from the bridge

Now the river and the falls were filling the air, silence no more. A narrow gorge that would be more spectacular with more water but still noisy and scenic. People now appearing, bad news.

The Speyside route bypasses the Insh Marshes but the track is too high up and tree laden to see anything worthwhile. Birdwatchers could detour for a spell.

Ruthven Barracks

Before you know it the ruins of Ruthven Barracks are in view, set on fire by the Jacobites following the 1745 rising. Just on plan I have been joined by you know who. A few visitors around, almost all English ironic considering where we are. But still very quiet as we walk into dead Kingussie, no coffee shop open on a Sunday, do they think they are in the Western Isles?

The dangerous bit crossing the track at the lovely Kingussie station

The good lady and I parted again as I did the final slog to Newtonmore solo. This is a rubbish section as it is along pavements and then a cycle track beside the road. The walk needs to be altered to go through countryside or really should finish up in Kingussie. My Cicerone book stops/starts at Aviemore.

Money spent on the finish/start at Newtonmore

Another Sunday dead village but relieved to find that there was one coffee shop open. Desperately needed cake and coffee from the Wild Flour. Gluten free carrot cake excellent and the good lady's strawberry laden Victoria sponge even better, so she tells me.

A walk on mainly hard packed surfaces was sore on the feet but I was moving quickly. Some good views and glad of that squirrel but not the most interesting route.

Ascent: 281m

Distance: 21.6km

Time: 4.15

Wildlife: Red Squirrel; Grey Wagtail; Wood Pigeon; Blackbird; 

Speyside Way Aviemore - Kincraig

It had rained heavily during the night but it was a lovely blue sky morning and we went for an unadventurous but highly enjoyable section of the Speyside Way, walking from Aviemore to Kincraig.

Tree cutter

We decided to start the walk from the house which added about a mile to the route before joining it formally at La Taverna. As we walked through the woods a jet fighter appeared very low heading north up the Spey. It was triangular in shape and very, very loud. The other highlight was watching a guy high up cutting down a tree, a large section dropping and just missing a lodge. Luck or design?

Dying autumn colours

The short road section led to the road crossing before heading down under the railway and onto the route proper.
You cannot get lost, just follow this very well made walking and biking trail. You are walking alongside the railway but only 3 trains passed us on route.

More autumn colours

The pathway is lined with trees and ferns most of which are turning to their autumn colours, lovely. Excellent views of the Cairngorms along with the prominent memorial to the Duke of Gordon sticking up from a hill.

Duke of gordon monument

We come across some deep deer prints on the track. I know the track build is softish but I reckon this was a large Red deer landing hard after a leap or fast run, speculate why?

Deer prints

A lovely up and down section zig-zagging then over a burn and an excellently constructed wooden bridge, want to redo my fence?

Railway bridge

Into another woodland section now along with the option of a detour, if required, to Dalraddy campsite/caravan park for refreshments. Their log cabins seem to go on for ages it must be a big site.

Woodland track

Pass some new houses and reach a new wooden bench with excellent views over the Spey to the mountains (lunch break in the warm sunshine). 

Spey valley

The river Spey has been conspicuous by its absence until now which considering the name of the way is slightly disappointing.

New bench good spot for lunch

Follow the Badenoch trail section which is a narrow track meandering through the ferns with high views of the river below, a bit more interesting than the other track. 

Typical Badenoch section

A buzzard cried over head but better still when I put the binos on it I could see a pair of golden eagles circling high in the sky until they disappeared.
We enter the outskirts of Kincraig and pass many old cracking looking granite houses, I want one of them. I love the 'get in there, fist pumping' lion on this gate in the village.

Fist pumping lion

The walk for us ends at the war memorial next to the bus stop. Walkhighlands route description says that there is a village shop but if so we could not find it. Disappointed as I was looking forward to a bar of chocolate and a can of Irn Bru, healthy or what.

Kincraig war memorial

Instead we just sat on the bench and enjoyed the sun shining on our faces for the 30 minutes until the bus back to Aviemore. A good walk, a good day.

Distance 7.9 miles (12.71km)
Time: 3.01 hours
Ascent: 460 ft (140m)