Walking in Speyside
Walking in Speyside
Walking in Speyside
5 Days Starting and ending in Various pick-up points available - please contact us for details
Visiting: Dunkeld, Grantown-on-Spey, Nethy Bridge, Dufftown, Craigellachie, Aberlour, Speyside Way, Spey Bay, WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre, Queen's View Visitor Centre
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BWSP
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 25
Physical rating:
Medium, Active
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat, Please contact Brightwater with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Coach tours (worldwide), Small Group, Walking Hiking and Trekking
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Speyside is a walker’s paradise, with a network of pathways, many of them on abandoned railway lines with gentle gradients, criss-crossing this rich, fertile landscape of rolling hills and wooded glens. The River Spey lies at its heart and will be our constant companion as we enjoy three easy walks that eventually lead us to the sea on the Moray coast. The October departure promises to be especially spectacular with a riotous display of autumn colours to brighten our days. Travelling north we break ourselves in gently with a short walk through the leafy Hermitage in Perthshire before continuing to our comfortable hotel in Speyside. From here we enjoy three different walks, the first in the surrounding area as we pick up part of the Speyside Way. Next we follow a circular route through the heart of the whisky producing area, taking in Dufftown, Aberlour and Craigellachie, followed by a walk that take us to the mouth of the river on the Moray Firth. On the way home we wind down with a gentle forest walk and admire the Queen’s View near Pitlochry
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Location: Dunkeld, Grantown-on-Spey
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Craiglynne Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
We will depart from our designated departure points and head up the A9, breaking our journey with a gentle walk beside the River Braan at the Hermitage, near Dunkeld. The river tumbles through a deep gorge, lined on either side with stately conifers.
We continue north to Grantown-on-Spey and our comfortable accommodation at the Craiglynne Hotel. If you wish to order a packed lunch from the hotel for the following day, please do so this evening and each subsequent evening as required.
Day 2
Location: Grantown-on-Spey, Nethy Bridge
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Craiglynne Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After our full Scottish breakfast we depart on our first walk which takes us along part of the Speyside Way from our base in Grantown to Nethy Bridge, a distance of six miles, mostly on the trackbed of the former Strathspey Railway, with some forest walks. We will return by coach to our hotel.
Day 3
Location: Dufftown, Craigellachie, Aberlour
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Craiglynne Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast today we follow an offshoot of the Speyside Way, a circular route which begins in Dufftown, synonymous with whisky distilling – it used to be said that ‘Rome was built on seven hills; Dufftown was built on seven stills’. The walk again follows the trackbed of the old Strathspey railway to Craigellachie, where we will make a slight detour to admire Thomas Telford’s impressive cast iron bridge of 1814, which appears to go straight into the rock face on the other side of the River Spey but in fact takes a sharp right turn which made it unsuitable for modern traffic. From here we continue along the railway trackbed to Aberlour and then walk through forest and moorland back to Dufftown, returning by coach to our hotel. The total length of the walk is 12.5 miles but for those who wish to walk halfway a transfer will be provided back to the hotel from Aberlour.
Day 4
Location: Speyside Way, Spey Bay, WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Craiglynne Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Re-joining the Speyside Way today, our walk of five miles takes us from Fochabers to Spey Bay, using forest roads and tracks alongside the ever-widening River Spey before it finally runs in to the sea on the shores of the Moray Firth.
In the afternoon we will visit the Scottish Dolphin Centre here in Spey Bay, where if conditions are favourable it is possible to observe the dolphins as they come to within a few metres of the shore.
We return to our hotel later in the afternoon.
Day 5
Location: Queen's View Visitor Centre
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we check out of the hotel and begin our homeward journey, which we will break with a gentle ‘warm down’ walk of around two miles along the Allean Forestry Trail, which has some fine views over Loch Tummel before enjoying the famous Queen’s View itself.
We return to our original pick-up points in the evening.
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Services of a professional tour manager
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Comfortable coach travel throughout
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Meals - as per the itinerary
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
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Drinks with Meals
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Entrance Fees
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Check out our Q&As
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Will I receive more details of the holiday before I travel?
You will receive detailed joining instructions around 10 days prior to you departure, but you are of course welcome to contact us at any time should you have any queries.
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What facilities do your coaches have?
Generally, our coaches have reclining seats, air-conditioning and toilets, however this cannot always be guaranteed as sometimes we have to use smaller vehicles. Toilets are recommended for emergency use only and regular comfort stops will be made throughout your holiday while travelling around.
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Do I have to go on the included excursions?
Absolutely not. You are more than welcome to spend the day at your hotel or exploring independently should you wish. All we ask is that you inform your Tour Manager, so they are not left waiting for you to join the group.
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Is there time to relax?
Although our itineraries may seem jam-packed, boasting access to some of the most exclusive sites across the UK and beyond, a Brightwater Holiday is just that: a holiday. Each trip will counter in more than enough free-time for you to explore places at your own leisure. And with most nights and the majority of meals being included in our tour prices, you can relax in hand-picked accommodation.
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Do I need to be an expert?
Absolutely not! Although some of our tours are specifically focused on one thing, all you need to enjoy a Brightwater holiday is interest and bags of enthusiasm! Even on our most specialist tours, we take travellers from all skill levels, from experts to beginners.
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How fit or active do I need to be for one of your holidays?
You need to be able to get on and off the coach unassisted, and most – but not all – coaches have a kneel facility that lowers the front step for ease of boarding
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Do you have self-drive holidays?
Yes, we do – tailored to your exact requirements!
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What’s the luggage allowance on your coaches?
There’s no fixed limit, but we generally say one large suitcase to go in the luggage compartment and a smaller bag that you can take onto the coach with you. For flight-inclusive holidays, we include a luggage allowance of at least 20kg.
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Where are your departure points?
UK garden holidays generally depart from London, with additional pick-ups depending on the route of the coach, while holidays to Scotland depart from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth, with Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen sometimes included. All Eurostar holidays depart from London St. Pancras and flight-inclusive holidays depart from one or more of the main London airports, with regional flights .
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What about the company that will be kept?
For single travellers, those with a companion or even those travelling in a larger group, you'll find that the signature of any Brightwater Holiday is the company. You won't ever be travelling with a group of strangers, instead, you'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded people with a strong shared interest who will soon become your firm friends.
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What is a Brightwater Holiday?
Bursting with enthralling, educational and enlightening itineraries, a Brightwater Holiday, by its very nature, is packed with bucket-list-worthy destinations, behind the scenes passes and expert-led experiences. From creating bespoke quality garden and special interest tours for groups and individuals alike, we have made it our business to make our guests' travel dreams come true.
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Why is there a single supplement?
Unfortunately, single room supplements are charges that are often imposed on us as a company when we book rooms for group holidays. However, most hotels do charge less for single occupancy, and we always pass this saving on to our solo travellers in the form of a modest single supplement.
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How much are your optional excursions?
Prices start from as little as £20, but please contact our friendly team for questions about specific itineraries or excursions.
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Can I pre-book my coach seats?
Yes, you can. In the case of front seats, guests with limited mobility are given priority. Please get in touch with our friendly team to discuss any requirements you may have.
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How to get there? Easy!
With a Brightwater Holiday, the journey is just as important as the destination and we make getting you to your tour start point easy. From organising group flights and individual travel plans, to offering accessible local departure and pick-up points, we go out of our way to ensure that your journey is as convenient and hassle-free as it can be.
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Do I need to have travel insurance?
Travel insurance is required for all overseas holidays and is also strongly recommended for UK holidays – primarily to protect yourself against cancellation charges should you be unable to travel.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of brightwater holidays charges.
At 40 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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