History
The Speyside Way is one of Scotland's four original official Long Distance Routes, alongside the West Highland Way, the Southern Upland Way and the Great Glen Way. These routes were proposed and financially supported by Scottish Natural Heritage.
It first opened in 1981, running from Spey Bay to Ballindalloch. A spur to Tomintoul was added in 1990, an extension north from Spey Bay to Buckie followed in 1999, and the route was extended from Ballindalloch to Aviemore in April 2000. The final extension, to Newtonmore, was completed in 2020 and follows most of the route of the former Strathspey Railway.
The route is managed by the three access authorities along it: the Moray Council, the Highland Council and the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
Sources: Speyside Way (official site); Wikipedia: Speyside Way; Wikipedia: Scotland's Great Trails; Scotland's Great Trails: Speyside Way
Facts
- Code
- UK 011 (provisional)
- Distance
- 85.0 miles (137 km). We measure 89.5 miles
- Sections
- 6
- Type
- Linear
- Opened
- 1981
- Designation
- One of Scotland's Great Trails
- Looked after by
- NatureScot (Scotland's Great Trails) / Moray Council / Cairngorms National Park Authority
- Nations
- Scotland
- Total ascent
- Still to be measured