The Dava Way - Grantown-on-Spey to Forres
Thursday 28 March 2024
Route
Grantown-on-Spey - Dulicht Bridge - Mid Lynmore Wood - Dava Summit - Dava - Halfway Hut - Bantrach Wood - Divie Viaduct - Dunphail - Edinkillie Hall - Scurrypool Bridge - Dallas Dhu Distillery - Forres
Parking
Plenty of parking in Grantown-on-Spey. As of 2024 there is no regular public transport between Forres and Grantown in order to return back to your car. The only public transport along the length of the Dava Way is a bus service between Forres and Edinkillie Church. This morning and afternoon weekday service is provided by Moray Council and operates during school term times – 312 Timetable or tel: 01343 562569.
Mileage
24.1 miles
Terrain
For almost its entirety The Dava Way is flat and follows the track bed of the old Highland Railway line. The final mile into Forres is via minor pavemented roads and housing estates. There was a light dusting of snow along some parts of the track bed but this did not affect the walk.
Weather
Overcast for the entire walk
Time Taken
8hrs 40mins including an hour break at Edinkillie Hall
Total Ascent
1446ft (441m)
Map
OS 419 - Grantown-on-Spey & Hills of Cromdale
OS 423 - Elgin, Forres & Lossiemouth
Walkers
Dave & Fudge (for Grantown-on-Spey to Edinkillie Hall only)
Grantown-on-Spey - Dulicht Bridge - Mid Lynmore Wood - Dava Summit - Dava - Halfway Hut - Bantrach Wood - Divie Viaduct - Dunphail - Edinkillie Hall - Scurrypool Bridge - Dallas Dhu Distillery - Forres
Parking
Plenty of parking in Grantown-on-Spey. As of 2024 there is no regular public transport between Forres and Grantown in order to return back to your car. The only public transport along the length of the Dava Way is a bus service between Forres and Edinkillie Church. This morning and afternoon weekday service is provided by Moray Council and operates during school term times – 312 Timetable or tel: 01343 562569.
Mileage
24.1 miles
Terrain
For almost its entirety The Dava Way is flat and follows the track bed of the old Highland Railway line. The final mile into Forres is via minor pavemented roads and housing estates. There was a light dusting of snow along some parts of the track bed but this did not affect the walk.
Weather
Overcast for the entire walk
Time Taken
8hrs 40mins including an hour break at Edinkillie Hall
Total Ascent
1446ft (441m)
Map
OS 419 - Grantown-on-Spey & Hills of Cromdale
OS 423 - Elgin, Forres & Lossiemouth
Walkers
Dave & Fudge (for Grantown-on-Spey to Edinkillie Hall only)
If the above GPX file fails to download or presents itself as an XML file once downloaded then please feel free to contact me and I will send you the GPX file via e-mail.
Further information
A really good resource for planning The Dava Way is the official website which can be found at this link davaway.org.uk
A really good resource for planning The Dava Way is the official website which can be found at this link davaway.org.uk
Route Map
The Caravan & Motorhome Club site at Grantown-on-Spey - we were staying on site and therefore started the walk from here. The site is roughly 1/4 of a mile from Grantown-on-Spey and the route passes the entrance.
Passing under Dulicht Bridge. On the other side of the bridge a path on the right is taken which leads on to the old trackbed of the former Highland Railway. This section of the line opened in September 1863 and eventually closed in 1965.
Above Dulicht Bridge is a way marker - I noticed how far I had to go to Forres and then immediately put it to the back of my mind
Fudge as usual took it all in his doggy stride - he would be accompanying me as far as Edinkillie Hall
The route passes through several railway cuttings
Crossing the bridge over the A939 at Lady Catherine's Halt. The building on the other side of the road is the East Lodge of Castle Grant. The lodge was built as compensation to the Earl of Seafield from the Inverness & Perth Junction Railway in order to secure permission for the line to cross his territory.
At Grid Reference NJ 034304 the track bed carries on to the right however The Dava Way continues to the left in order to pass through the delightful Lynmore Woods and rejoins the trackbed a mile further on.
Snowy unpronounceable tops over to the east
3 miles in as we enter Lynmore Woods
Lynmore Woods
The route rejoins the track bed in Mid Lynmore Wood at Grid Reference NJ 035318
All of a sudden the ground was covered in a light dusting of the white stuff - Fudge gives me his "pre-arsing about look"
The Dava Summit - the sign is a replica of the original
The Solitary Redcoat at Heatherbell Cutting
This wooden carving was erected to commemorate the battle of Cromdale in 1690 when the Redcoats (government army) marched to battle the Jacobite’s during the first rebellion. 300 of the 1500 clansmen were killed in less than half an hour in the battle and it is remembered as a dark day in the Jacobite’s history. The statue has been vandalised several times. Its hand was once cut clean off and marks around its head suggested an attempted decapitation. It appears there are still Highlanders who remember the failed Jacobite cause, although vandalising the statue is probably not the best way to mark their allegiance!
This wooden carving was erected to commemorate the battle of Cromdale in 1690 when the Redcoats (government army) marched to battle the Jacobite’s during the first rebellion. 300 of the 1500 clansmen were killed in less than half an hour in the battle and it is remembered as a dark day in the Jacobite’s history. The statue has been vandalised several times. Its hand was once cut clean off and marks around its head suggested an attempted decapitation. It appears there are still Highlanders who remember the failed Jacobite cause, although vandalising the statue is probably not the best way to mark their allegiance!
Arriving at Dava. Instead of visiting the former railway station buildings, the path turns to the left here and emerges on the other side of the station buildings
The entrance to Dava Station - the building is now a private residence however we chanced our arm and wandered along the access drive
This is about as far as we go Fudge - the station building and the platform still clearly visible
Dava Station as it was when the line was in use
9 miles in with 15 to go
Fudge stares intently at the ruined railway building at Dava North. The hill ahead is Knock of Braemoray.
The Halfway Hut - a restored railway building that now provides a place to rest a while - so we did
As we always do when given the opportunity we signed the Visitor's Book
Fudge chows down on his lunch caring not a jot that I am trying to get an arty farty pic of the hut's interior
Suitably refreshed we head on towards the Divie Viaduct
A memorial sculpture of Jess the the Collie that used to live at nearby Bogeney Farm in the 1940s & 50s. She was a very special dog that belonged to Mrs Macdonald of Bogeney. All sorts of parcels were ordered by post from Grantown and as the train approached the driver would blast the whistle which alerted Jess the Collie who, as the train slowed to a walking pace, raced to the track and collected the parcel as it was thrown out of the cab.
Bogeney Bridge
Approaching the Divie Viaduct via Bantrach Wood
The Divie Viaduct - ahead are the only two walkers I saw all day
The viaduct was built in 1861 specifically to carry the railway over the River Divie. It cost just £10,000 to build however to put inflation into perspective, the recent repointing cost over £100,000.
The viaduct was built in 1861 specifically to carry the railway over the River Divie. It cost just £10,000 to build however to put inflation into perspective, the recent repointing cost over £100,000.
The Bruno & Paula Cawley Memorial Bench. Bruno was the founder of The Dava Way.
The derelict station platform at Dunphail
15 miles in now and we would be meeting Angie here at Edinkillie Hall, Dunphail. Fudge would soon be off for a snooze in the car whilst I carried on solo to Forres.
Time for a break before I cracked on at the delightful little picnic area at Dunphail. Meanwhile Fudge tries to convince me he hasn't had his lunch yet.
A huge metal sculpture with a Big Cock
The sculpture is actually called "The Iron Giant" and was made by Lucas Dew whose workshop is in the old station building at Dunphail
The sculpture is actually called "The Iron Giant" and was made by Lucas Dew whose workshop is in the old station building at Dunphail
Passing under one of the many redundant railway bridges
Crossing the footbridge over the Altyre Burn
Scurrypool Bridge
Just under 20 miles in and I was still feeling pretty good
Passing the Pig Farm at Lower Rafford
Junior Porkers having a right old mess about (Click Play to view)
The Dallas Dhu Distillery
As I passed above the Distillery I thought to myself there did not seem to be much happening there. Later on I discovered the Distillery closed in 1983 and the reason it is in good condition is that Historic Environment Scotland (previously Historic Scotland) has operated the property since its establishment in 1992. The distillery complex, with certain exceptions, is a Category A listed building. It was recently announced that the Distillery will reopen under the management of Aceo Distillers Company.
As I passed above the Distillery I thought to myself there did not seem to be much happening there. Later on I discovered the Distillery closed in 1983 and the reason it is in good condition is that Historic Environment Scotland (previously Historic Scotland) has operated the property since its establishment in 1992. The distillery complex, with certain exceptions, is a Category A listed building. It was recently announced that the Distillery will reopen under the management of Aceo Distillers Company.
Arriving on the outskirts of Forres, the route passes through a couple of housing estates
Nothing to see here - just a Roebuck wearing a Hat & Scarf
Sanquhar Loch
The weir at Sanquhar Loch
24 miles in and I finally arrived at the finish in Forres and was met by Angie & my wingman
Prior to meeting me at the finish, Angie had a wander around Forres and took some pictures of the town
At the western end of the High Street is a memorial to a man who died in the Crimean War administering medical care to the wounded. The needle, as it is often referred to, is a 50-foot obelisk with an aspect straight down the High Street.
The inscription reads:
To the memory of Assistant Surgeon James Thomson. Born at Cromarty on the 8th March 1823 and deceased in the Crimea on the 5th October 1854. He served with the 44th Regiment at Malta, in 1850, when the cholera broke out and shortly proved fatal to all the surgeons of the Corps, himself alone excepted. The skill, fortitude and humanity, displayed by him, in arresting the progress of that disease, gained for him the praises of the Commander-in-Chief. He was present with the same regiment in the Battle of Alma, in 1854, and a few days afterwards, when the British were leaving the field, he volunteered to remain behind with seven hundred desperately wounded Russians. Isolated from his countrymen and endangered by the vicinity of large bodies of Cossacks, ill-supplied with food and exposed to the risk of pestilence, he succeeded in restoring to health about four hundred of the enemy, and embarking them for Odessa. He then dies from the effects of excessive hardship and privation.
This public monument is erected as a tribute of respect for the virtues of an officer whose life was useful and whose death was glorious.
At the western end of the High Street is a memorial to a man who died in the Crimean War administering medical care to the wounded. The needle, as it is often referred to, is a 50-foot obelisk with an aspect straight down the High Street.
The inscription reads:
To the memory of Assistant Surgeon James Thomson. Born at Cromarty on the 8th March 1823 and deceased in the Crimea on the 5th October 1854. He served with the 44th Regiment at Malta, in 1850, when the cholera broke out and shortly proved fatal to all the surgeons of the Corps, himself alone excepted. The skill, fortitude and humanity, displayed by him, in arresting the progress of that disease, gained for him the praises of the Commander-in-Chief. He was present with the same regiment in the Battle of Alma, in 1854, and a few days afterwards, when the British were leaving the field, he volunteered to remain behind with seven hundred desperately wounded Russians. Isolated from his countrymen and endangered by the vicinity of large bodies of Cossacks, ill-supplied with food and exposed to the risk of pestilence, he succeeded in restoring to health about four hundred of the enemy, and embarking them for Odessa. He then dies from the effects of excessive hardship and privation.
This public monument is erected as a tribute of respect for the virtues of an officer whose life was useful and whose death was glorious.
Castle Bridge over the Burn of Mossett
The bridge was originally built in 1823 and rebuilt in 1908
The bridge was originally built in 1823 and rebuilt in 1908
The War Memorial in Forres
The Memorial Cairn in honour of 14 British Royal Air Force Servicemen who died while supporting NATO ground operations in Afghanistan in September 2006. It is located to the south of the Forres War Memorial and was funded by public donations.
The Mercat Cross & Tolbooth located on the High Street in Forres
The Mercat Cross is modelled on the much grander Scott Monument in Princes Street, Edinburgh. The Category B listed structure was designed by Elgin architect Thomas Mackenzie and constructed in 1844. Although it now sits on a paved area in front of the Tolbooth, it once stood in the street. Recent extensions of the paving has created a market square between the Mercat Cross and Tolbooth. An old cross was present before this one was built and the base of the old cross was left in position, and the new one built over it. Weather and time have taken their toll on the monument and nearly all of the finials having fallen off by 2018. However, some of these intricate pieces were replaced in 2021.
The Forres Tolbooth is the town centre’s most noticeable landmark standing prominently on the high street with its distinctive cupola rising above the skyline. There has been a building of some prominence on this site for around 800 years. The current Tolbooth was built in 1838 and now houses an impressive courtroom, chambers and prison cells. Inside there are a number of paintings and records of the town burgesses.
The Mercat Cross is modelled on the much grander Scott Monument in Princes Street, Edinburgh. The Category B listed structure was designed by Elgin architect Thomas Mackenzie and constructed in 1844. Although it now sits on a paved area in front of the Tolbooth, it once stood in the street. Recent extensions of the paving has created a market square between the Mercat Cross and Tolbooth. An old cross was present before this one was built and the base of the old cross was left in position, and the new one built over it. Weather and time have taken their toll on the monument and nearly all of the finials having fallen off by 2018. However, some of these intricate pieces were replaced in 2021.
The Forres Tolbooth is the town centre’s most noticeable landmark standing prominently on the high street with its distinctive cupola rising above the skyline. There has been a building of some prominence on this site for around 800 years. The current Tolbooth was built in 1838 and now houses an impressive courtroom, chambers and prison cells. Inside there are a number of paintings and records of the town burgesses.