Speyside Way: Kingussie to Aviemore

After our long hill day yesterday we decided to opt for something a little easier and lower level to stay out of the wind. We caught the morning train to Kingussie, taking around 15 minutes from Aviemore, and walked back taking quite a bit longer!

Kingussie to Kincraig

This was the longest section of the walk. Kincraig provides a lovely spot for lunch, except on Tuesday and Wednesday when the Post Office Café is closed. Thankfully we were armed with this knowledge in advance and resigned to not having a stop or we’d have been mighty disappointed!

Setting off from the train station, we headed out of Kingussie and after a short section of pavement had to walk on a quiet minor road.

This led us to the Ruthven Barracks and from here the trail was pretty consistent.

We trundled along, reflecting on our decision to stay low, chatting about the hills over the last couple of days. It was strange being on relatively flat terrain.

One of the good things about the route is the plentiful seats to stop and admire the views or take a breather. We didn’t stop but were taken with the idea of a book exchange.

This section of the walk was flat, very little variation, and our legs felt tired from the exertions of the hills. Would they have been any better if we’d gone high?

We took a very short detour to visit the viewpoint for the Uath Lochans. Somewhere below us we could hear the voices of children playing; amazing how noise can carry.

Leaving this beautiful spot we continued along. By this point our legs were getting tired of the terrain and we contemplated whether we’d continue past Kincraig or catch the bus, our timing being on point for a bus back to Aviemore.

It was very fortuitous therefore that as we passed the Loch Insh Watersports Centre I picked up the scent of food, a quick Google revealing that there was in fact a restaurant. We nipped down the embankment, something others had done before us, footsteps cut into the short, steep slope, to be welcomed in for lunch.

Refreshed by tattie and leek soup, coffee and cake, we happily set off on our way again, safe in the knowledge that we’d now missed the bus but were set up to continue walking.

Reaching Kincraig, we paused only for me to photograph the post box before continuing on our way.

Kincraig to Aviemore

This section of the route is more interesting (and shorter). It’s not far at all before a warning sign reminding of the steep gradients for bikers.

The railway line runs very close by for much of this section. A few trains passed by, the speed at which they were travelling quite astonishing at close range. No wonder we got to Kingussie in such good time!

After a good few ups and downs with a blether to a walker heading the opposite way, we reached the walkway over the wet ground.

We then did our final climb of the day leading us to the last section of flat walking with views into the Cairngorms. We looked back to where we’d been yesterday, the hills shrouded in a fair bit of cloud today.

In this final section we met some other walkers including an older chap who’d been a hill walker in previous years; he was keen to chat hills and reminisce.

Before long we saw the sign indicating just over a mile to Aviemore. We were glad of this, as fine as the walk had been our legs and feet were tired.

‘Home’, showered, the Old Bridge Inn is calling!