Whisky production
Speyside has been inextricably linked with whisky production, both illicit and legal, for several hundred years. The first written reference to its production in Scotland appears in the 1494 Exchequer Rolls, which record the granting ‘To Friar John Cor, by order of the King to make aqua vitae, VIII bols of malt’. Friar John was based at Lindores Abbey in north-west Fife; as eight bols is equivalent to over 94 stone in weight, it would suggest that the abbey was involved in large-scale distilling. Aqua vitae in Latin translates as ‘water of life’, which became uisge beatha in the Gaelic, which was eventually anglicised to ‘whisky’. The raw spirit produced from early stills was probably very rough, and so would have been flavoured with berries and herbs. The earliest records show that malt has always been a key ingredient in Scottish whisky.
In 1644 the first duty on whisky was introduced by an act of the Scottish Parliament, and this drove ‘underground’ much whisky production which, at that time, was predominantly a cottage industry. In 1823 the licensing of distilleries was introduced, which ensured both the quality and safety of the whisky produced; much of the illegally produced spirit may well have been poisonous! George Smith, founder of the Glenlivet Distillery, was the first to take out a licence under the 1823 act of Parliament, and so started the legal production of whisky on Speyside, where today nearly half of the distilleries in Scotland are located. The export of whisky is an important source of revenue for the Scottish economy, contributing over £2.5 billion per annum and providing over 40,000 jobs.
Many whisky distilleries are passed on, or are within walking distance of, the Speyside Way and the other trails (see Appendix D). The principal ones from south to north are: Tormore*, Cragganmore, Tamdhu*, Knockando*, Cardhu (off-route), Dailuaine*, Aberlour, Glenallachie* (off-route), Craigellachie, Macallan (off-route), Speyside cooperage (off-route – not a distillery), Glen Grant (off-route in Rothes, but visible from the Speyside Way), Glenfiddich (Dufftown Loop), The Glenlivet (Tomintoul Spur), Dallas Dhu (Dava Way) and Benromach (MCT). Those marked with an asterisk* are closed to the public, but all the others offer tours to visitors, most only between Easter and October.
Several of the Speyside distilleries offer tours to visitors in which the production process (see Appendix D) is explained in detail, and there are also many books available on the subject.
The old railways
The disused railway lines of the region provide routes for considerable sections of the Speyside Way (for example from Ballindalloch to Craigellachie) and most of the Dava Way. Steam-rail enthusiasts flock to travel on the Strathspey Steam Railway from Aviemore to Broomhill, on the longest heritage railway in Scotland, and tourists can also enjoy weekend trips on the Keith and Dufftown Heritage Railway (see ‘Dufftown Loop’). However, the economic importance of the railways in Speyside and Moray predates the current tourism industry by over 150 years.
During the Highland railway-building boom of the mid-1800s several small railway companies were involved in building sections of railway to link Perth to Inverness. The original line followed a long route around the Moray coast, as the shorter cross-country route was deemed too difficult to construct economically. However, such a route was eventually opened up by the Inverness and Perth Junction Railway. The first turf was cut in 1861 for the 103-mile section from Dunkeld to Forres, and after less than two years the 36 miles from Forres to Aviemore opened. It had required 8 viaducts, 126 bridges and 119 road bridges!
Ticket office at the former cromdale station (Speyside Way)
The railway allowed local farmers much easier access to their markets. Cattle and sheep that had taken six weeks to reach the south could make the journey now in one or two days. Dunphail Sidings (now on the Dava Way) reputedly had the longest platform in the country, so that sheep could be loaded speedily into awaiting railway trucks. The whisky industry on the River Spey benefited both from large quantities of coal being delivered by rail and by its finished product being moved to distributors by the railways. Cragganmore on Speyside was the first distillery to be built to take advantage of the adjacent railway. The railways brought tourists into the Speyside and Moray regions in ever greater numbers. Large Victorian hotels in towns such as Aviemore bear witness to the facilities that were developed to service these new visitors.
When to Walk
The three trails can be walked at any time of the year, as they are predominantly in low-lying country, with the exception of the Tomintoul Spur. However, the region is one of the coldest in Britain, and severe, cold weather is not unusual in winter-time, making a walk along the trails at best very unpleasant, but a dangerous venture for the ill-prepared. If it is planned to walk the routes during the winter months then the best option is to do them as a series of day walks, preferably in good weather, and walking only short sections at a time in order to reduce the risk of becoming benighted on the trail. This option, of course, is really feasible only for those living in or close to the area. Others would need to organise accommodation in B&Bs or hotels, but bear in mind that many of these are not open during the winter months. Similarly, public transport services operate reduced winter timetables, and many of the tourist attractions of the area, such as Distillery Tours, are closed until the spring.
It hardly needs stating that good quality waterproof, windproof and warm winter clothing, including hats and gloves, must be worn. The Tomintoul Spur reaches a height of nearly 2000ft (610m), and consequently the temperatures on these hills in winter is much lower than in the valley, and the amount of snow often significant. The possibility of severe winter weather, coupled with short daylight hours from the end of October until the beginning of March at these northerly latitudes, makes winter walking along these trails only suitable for the well equipped and well prepared.
Daffodils line the Spey by the old bridge at Nethy Bridge (Beryl Castle) (Speyside Way)
Flooding of the Spey and other rivers, particularly during the wet autumn months and in the springtime, when the winter snows melt from the surrounding mountains, is not uncommon and can make the trails extremely wet underfoot in some areas, if not actually impassable or dangerous (heavy rains and flooding at Fochabers in the autumn of 2009 caused a major diversion to the Speyside Way in the area). Violent storms with heavy rain and gale-force winds can occur at any time of the year, but are more common in the late autumn and winter months. The Moray Coast is particularly prone to very strong winds, often blustering.
The trail in springtime north of Glenfiddich Distillery (Dufftown Loop)
Walking the Speyside Way, Dava Way and MCT is best reserved for the spring, summer and early autumn months, when weather conditions are generally more suitable. Daylight hours are long at these high latitudes, 16–18 hours from May to July, so there is plenty of time for the longest or the slowest of walks. Summer has the advantage of generally warmer days, but as this is the period when the majority of people take their holidays, there will be more competition for the available bed space in the area.
Spring and autumn are therefore the best seasons. High pressure is perhaps more common during the spring in Scotland, and days during May and June often (but not always!) present ideal walking conditions – bright, sunny and not overly warm. The general freshness and rebirth of life is stimulating during springtime, birds can be heard singing everywhere and wild flower displays are a particular joy. The bright yellow flowers of the many broom bushes in the area are especially striking. Autumn is a charming time of the year in northern Scotland, with its mellow colours and general feeling of seasonal contentment. The abundance of deciduous trees in Speyside and Moray