The Moray Trail

Written By Jim Sutherland

Casks at a distillery

Starting and finishing in Grantown on Spey at the edge of the Cairngorm Mountains, the Moray Trail offers 100 miles of beautiful, varied and accessible trails with 3517 feet of ascent over the route.  You will follow the mighty River Spey, past distilleries all the way to the Moray Coast at Spey Bay.  Next head west on quiet country backroads and sandy trails in pine forest above secluded beaches with history, all the way to the mouth of another big river, the Findhorn.  Finally a steady, gentle climb south on a disused railway line through rich farmland to the dramatic space of Dava Moor before descending back into Grantown on Spey through Castle Grant Estate.  The Moray Trail, as described here has a beautiful rhythm where the first third of the route engages with the land beside the river, the middle is close to the sea and the final part moves steadily back towards the mountains which get tantalisingly closer with each mile.

The Moray Trail has something for everyone whether they are new to overnight bikepacking, looking for a chilled adventure with friends or a fresh look at familiar landscapes.  The route described here is a tried and tested variation on the hikers route with less stop/start-on/off the bike due to outdated multi-access gates in the first third.  You also have more options for resupply and importantly, followed at 56 miles an overnight camp at the Silver Sands campground in Lossiemouth beside pine trees and sandy beaches.  By not wild-camping on this one you will know that you are contributing to local accommodation providers who will appreciate your custom after the Covid-19 pandemic and all that it brought.

typical Speyside, rural scene





HIGHLIGHTS

  • Setting off from The Bothy Bakery, Grantown on Spey after a delicious coffee and scone.

  • The view from Ben Aigan across the Spey, farmland and settlements down to the Sea.

  • Fish & Chips at The Fochabers Chip Shop, Breakfast at The Harbour Lights, Lossiemouth and on day two a well deserved treat at The Phoenix Cafe, Findhorn.

  • The terrain varies from quiet backroads, to forest tracks, singletrack and even beach.

  • Visiting a distillery on the way round, there are many to choose from...Knockando, Aberlour, Bendromach or Dallas Dhu to name a few!

  • The great open spaces and colours of the Dava Moor on the approach back to Grantown on Spey.

MUST KNOW

  • When to go - Match through to September would give the best chance of being comfortable but be ready for the odd rain shower.  Bring bg net and repellent if riding in full summer

  • Bike Shops - BaseCampBikes are located at the start in Grantown on Spey, also nearby Ride Cairngorm in Boat of Garten and Bothy Bikes, Aviemore before starting the ride.  There are also bike shops in Lossiemouth and Forres once en route.

  • Other trail users - this is a multi-use trail so be prepared for other hikers, horse riders or bikers.  Watch your speed around bends, on descents or sections that might be ‘well leafed’ in summer.

Fochabers Fish Bar





CAMPING

  • Silver Sands, Lossiemouth or Findhorn Bay Holiday Park & Camping are both bike friendly, clean and on the route.

  • Wild camping is possible on the route but please remember ‘Leave No Trace’ and be sensitive to local communities as they emerge from a difficult LockDown after some unpleasant dirty camping.  Try instead to support local accommodation providers or campsites on this one.

https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/practical-guide-all/camping





FOOD/H20

  • Resupply - once you hit Knockando you are never that far from grocery stores, pubs and restaurants or takeaways.  In Aberlour at mile 23 there is a takeaway cafe and small supermarket both right next to the Square.  On day two there is nothing on the trail once you leave Forres until Grantown on Spey so it might be wise to restock at Lossiemouth before stopping for the night.

  • Water - given the proximity to livestock and farms it is recommended to filter any water you draw on the trail





pines and the sandy trail

TRAIL NOTES

  • Trail surface includes : state road, tarmac, gravel, forest tracks, singletrack, grass, sand, shingle and even some railway ballast.  Approximately 55% of the route is unpaved.

  • There is no specific bike for the route - although by the time you get onto the Dava Way on day two you might want something with a little give or bounce.  I have ridden it twice on a Brother Cycles BigBro29er on 2.2s with friends on a 29 inch hardtail or a compact gravel bike - we all had fun.

  • Difficulty - there are no technical sections on this trail.  The climb north of Aberlour, up towards Ben Aigan & Knock More  is the steepest on the route.  Crossing the Dava Moor is exposed to weather, remember it can snow in the nearby Cairngorm Mountains almost any month of the year and you’re not far from them here.  Finally, pay attention to navigation close to villages and on the link from outside Garmouth to Burghead on the backroads.  Otherwise you might hit busier roads, or more pavement than necessary.

  • River crossings - there should be no river crossings if you are on the correct route.






late summer sun near The Knock of Braemoray on the Dava Way

RESOURCES

  • The Moray Trail on RideWithGPS

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/71546560

  • This route is a combination of three existing Long Distance Walking routes: The Spey Way, Moray Coastal Trail and the Dava Way.  Access should not be an issue and for more information refer to the Cicerone guidebook to them and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code

https://www.cicerone.co.uk/speyside-way-dava-way-and-moray-coast-trail

https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/







riding back into Grantown on Spey

Jim Sutherland
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