Speyside Way "from the mountains to the sea"
Feel like a challenge? As part of the festival join the Speyside Way Rangers in walking any (or all) of the stages below as they walk from the Cairngorms to the coast. Those who want to do all five days will be provided with guides and transport to and from their accommodation daily for a fee of £50 all-inclusive. No more than 15 walkers can be registered for this service, so get booking early! Day walkers will be charged £10 per day (including return transport). Again, you must book in advance as numbers will be limited.

Booking: Speyside Way Ranger Service, Tel: 01340 881724, fax: 01340 881266,
email: ged.connell@moray.gov.uk or andy.holtby@moray.gov.uk, www.speysideway.org

For all sections, bring packed lunch, stout footwear and waterproofs. Return transport will be provided.
1 - Aviemore to Grantown - Thursday 23rd August
From Boat of Garten we trek through the RSPB Abernethy forest (famous for the Loch Garten ospreys) into Nethy Bridge where we pick up the former railway track to take us on to Grantown by early evening.
Meet: 9am at the Aviemore car park (on High Street, between the Police Station and the Bank of Scotland).
Duration: 8-9 hours. 17 miles.
Grading: Moderate. Dogs must be kept under control.


2 - Grantown to Ballindalloch - Friday 24th August
From Grantown we walk through the mature pine forest of Anagach woods to Cromdale which offers a challenging walk through rolling agricultural land finishing up at Ballindalloch by late afternoon.
Meet: 10am at Grantown Square (by the Waterford Hotel).
Duration: 7 hours. 13 miles.
Grading: Moderate. Sorry no dogs allowed on this stretch.

3 - Ballindalloch to Tomintoul - Saturday 25th August
The Tomintoul spur is the most challenging part of this walk and explores the wilder upland parts of the Speyside Way and the Glenlivet Estate (including the world famous Glenlivet Distillery!).
Meet: 9am at Ballindalloch Station (take the B9137 minor tarred road off the main A95 at Ballindalloch, the station car park is about a mile ahead on the right).
Duration: 8 1/2 hours. 15 miles.
Grading: Strenuous. Dogs must be kept under control.

4 - Ballindalloch to Boat o' Brig - Sunday 26th August
Follow the former railway track through wooded valley passing alongside the Speyside distilleries of Tamdhu and Knockando and on through to the picturesque villages of Carron, Aberlour and Craigellachie through Ben Aigen forest where we drop down to rejoin the river Spey at Boat o’ Brig.
Meet: see walk 3.
Duration: 9 hours. 19 miles.
Grading: Strenuous.Dogs must be kept under control.

5 - Boat o' Brig to Spey Bay - Monday 27th August
With wonderful views of the Spey valley we arrive in Fochabers then rejoin forest tracks alongside the river till we reach the mouth of the Spey at Spey Bay (keep an eye out for ospreys and dolphins!) for celebratory refreshments at the Moray Firth Wildlife Centre!
Meet: 9am at Boat o' Brig car park (OS Landranger map no 28, grid ref; NJ 318 517).
Duration: 5 hours. 10 miles.
Grading: Moderate. Dogs must be kept under control.