Speyside Way

Speyside Way

A self-guided walking holiday from Buckie to Newtonmore, following the course of the spectacular River Spey

3 to 11 nights
27-101 miles
Moderate to Moderate / Demanding

From £385 per person

Find your holiday

About the trail

Follow the Speyside Way along the River Spey, covering 86 miles on foot. The trail heads inland from the wave-battered coastline through birchwoods and pastures, with views of heather-clad hills giving way steadily to the rising peaks of the Cairngorm Mountains. The Speyside Way keeps to clear paths and tracks, which are chiefly low-level save for a hillier foray from the riverbank between Ballindalloch and Grantown.

The trail is alive with welcoming villages and a wide variety of wildlife, from ospreys to dolphins, while budding historians will love the Pictish relics, standing stones and ancient castles. Some of Scotland’s most famous distilleries await, too, including Glenfiddich, Machallan, and Cardhu. Overall, the Speyside Way is an approachable, settled route through a wild and beguiling landscape. If you fancy an extra adventure, tack on the Tomintoul Spur and clamber over the moors to one of the highest villages in Scotland.

We offer multiple holiday options along this trail. If you wish to experience the entire trail, simply select the first option from the list below.

Choose your route

  • Speyside Way
  • Speyside Way and Tomintoul Spur
  • Speyside Way Short Break

About this route

9 to 11 nights
101 miles
Moderate to Moderate / Demanding
1st April to 31st October

From £1200 per person

Speyside Way and Tomintoul Spur

The Tomintoul Spur extension juts from the trail at Ballindalloch. It adds a 15-mile trek up through the wild moors of Glenlivet to one of the highest villages in Scotland. It’s a steeper trail than you’ll find on the rest of the Speyside Way, but the climb awards phenomenal views from Carn Daimh over the surrounding Cairngorm Mountains – and presents an opportunity to visit the famous Glenlivet Distillery.

The extension then reunites with the main trail where it left off, and the holiday continues to complete the remainder of the full Speyside trail to Newtonmore.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
SPW1+TOM1 From Buckie to Newtonmore 9 nights, 8 days walking Moderate / Demanding £1200
SPW1+TOM2 From Buckie to Newtonmore 10 nights, 9 days walking Moderate / Demanding £1330
SPW2+TOM1 From Buckie to Newtonmore 10 nights, 9 days walking Moderate / Demanding £1330
SPW2+TOM2 From Buckie to Newtonmore 11 nights, 10 days walking Moderate £1450

Short breaks

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
SPWSB1 From Craigellachie to Grantown-on-Spey 3 nights, 2 days walking Moderate / Demanding £385

Customer reviews from the Speyside Way and Tomintoul Spur

“As usual, everything was very well organised.”
Mr Maier, Germany
“All very good.”
Mr Joyce, UK
“The Tomintoul spur is superb.”
Mr Heath, UK
“Wonderful scenery and lovely quiet walk, enhanced by spectacular weather.”
Mr Trees, UK
Find your holiday