Discover the glories of Scotland from the coast to the mountains, Buckie to Aviemore and the Cairngorms. Walk past whisky distilleries and ancient castles, before finishing the trail in style aboard the majestic Strathspey Steam Railway.

Highlights Enjoy gentle walking, following the path of the River Spey from the coast to the mountains Watch the magnificent ospreys at Loch Garten Spend time discovering local specialities and sample traditional Highland life Eat out and enjoy fine Scottish food at traditional country pubs and restaurants Relax and travel in style by riding the old Highland steam train from Boat of Garten to Aviemore

Detailed information

	Detailed itinerary
	Type of walking
	Dates and prices
	Travel to and from your holiday
	Your accommodation and meals
	Extend your stay

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: arrive at your welcoming accommodation in Buckie.

Day 2: take time to visit the Moray Firth Wildlife Centre as you walk from Buckie to Fochabers. (10 miles, 170ft of ascent)

Day 3: walk from Fochabers to Craigellachie through the Craigellachie Forest and around the shoulder of Ben Aigen. (13 miles, 1,000ft of ascent)

Day 4: walk to Ballindalloch from Craigellachie and explore the magnificent family-owned Ballindalloch Castle. (12 miles, 240ft of ascent)

Extend your stay and enjoy an extra day's walk for whisky lovers, from the Glenlivet Distillery up along the Tomintoul Spur. More hilly and highly recommended by previous guests.

Day 5: continue from Ballindalloch to the pretty Georgian town of Grantown-on-Spey, popular with Queen Victoria. (13 miles, 1,070ft of ascent)

Day 6: the final stretch of your trail is to Boat of Garten from where you can catch the steam train to Aviemore, a popular town and winter ski resort. (11 miles, 570ft of ascent)

Day 7: depart after breakfast.

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Type of walking

A mainly level footpath that is ideal for anyone who wants their first taste of Scotland. Enjoy wide views and broad skies without having to climb mountains.

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Dates and prices

Daily departures from April to October 2008

We have designed our holidays to be completely flexible so that you have the freedom to decide when to go, where to go and for how long. The sooner you book your holiday however, the easier it will be to match your preferred holiday dates. If you wish to travel around bank holidays or during the peak summer season we recommend that you book as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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Travel to and from your holiday

This is not included in the price of your holiday.

By road: Buckie is 20mins from Elgin or Keith.

Parking
It is usually possible to park your car at one of the guesthouses at the start or the end of your trail, and we can check this for you once your booking has been confirmed. We provide you with details of how to make your way to the start of the trail, or to get back to your car at the end of your stay. The cost of this transfer is not included in the price of the holiday, but is usually quite inexpensive when travelling by local public transport. Direct taxi journeys can also be arranged. Parking is at guests' own risk. In places of very limited parking guesthouses and hotels may charge a small parking fee (approximately £3 per night).

By air: to Inverness or Aberdeen airport, then by bus or taxi.

By train: to Elgin station or Keith station, then by bus or taxi.

The following websites should help you to plan your journey:

By road: www.theaa.com
By rail: www.thetrainline.com
By coach: www.nationalexpress.com

More detailed travel information is provided in the personal information pack.

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Your accommodation and meals

You stay in small, friendly guesthouses, family-run hotels, farmhouse bed and breakfasts and country inns all offering you the warmth of traditional Scottish hospitality.

We offer en-suite rooms wherever possible, although in more remote regions where accommodation is limited they may not be available. You may stay for one night or spend several nights at one guesthouse and where this is the case we will provide a pick up and drop off service for your day's walk. You will receive a complete list of your accommodation with contact details in your personal information pack.

All accommodation is booked on a bed and breakfast basis, allowing you the freedom to choose where and when you would like to eat your lunch and evening meals. In many cases the guesthouses where you stay offer excellent evening meals or your personal information pack provides details of recommended restaurants and traditional British pubs.

Information about which of the guesthouses provide a packed lunch, and how much this costs is provided in our local information booklet included in your personal information pack. If the guesthouses en route are unable to offer this service we provide information about where you can buy food in local shops nearby. Alternatively, you may like to stop for lunch and sample the local cuisine at traditional pubs and cafes as you choose.

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Extend your stay

We can add rest days at the end of your trip to extend your holiday by as long as you wish. Why not explore further afield and spend some time at our lovely Country House accommodation in the Scottish Highlands at Glen Coe. Guided walking is also available from this location.

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