Aviemore to Boat of Garten on the Speyside Way

This is the Aviemore end of the Speyside Way, shared with a signed cycle route. From Aviemore station it goes north through the village and out by Dalfaber, passes under the railway and then follows a track across open moor and through woods beside the Strathspey steam railway, with the Cairngorms along the eastern skyline. It reaches Boat of Garten by a quiet road and ends at the station.

It is 19.0 km (11.8 miles) there and back with 106 m of climbing; allow about 1½ hours of riding. The grade is Easy. The way is mostly flat.

About half is on quiet roads at the two ends, and half on an estate and forest track that is firm but uneven in places: better on a hybrid, gravel or mountain bike than a road bike. Children manage it well. There are self-closing gates, one step, and an awkward, narrow passage under the railway bridges on the edge of Aviemore.

Aviemore has cycle hire, a railway station and car parks. Boat of Garten has cafés, an inn and toilets by the station. From March to the start of November the steam railway runs between the two and carries bikes for a small charge when it has room, which makes a one-way ride possible.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.