A train ride across the Firth of Forth and through Dundee brought us comfortably into Aberdeen. There we boarded a local bus to Buckie where we started our Speyside Walk. A view across the River Tay towards Dundee did not reveal the famous MacKays Marmelade factory but did pass many fields of bright yellow rapeseed.
Buckie used to be an important fishing town and revealed picturesque remnants of this past on my evening walk before dinner.
The next morning we passed the beginning of the Speyside Way on our walk along the seaside. Humour of the Scotch variety was evident on many trail signs.
Near the mouth of the Spey, the water rushes towards the sea near the Scottish Dolphin Center.
We reached our destination after 12 relatively flat miles. Our experience at the Gordon Arms was disappointing but I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Fochabers Folk Museum and Heritage Center in a converted church. The first item I saw was a Boston-made portable organ like Grandmother's. And there was a picturesque display of antique spinning and weaving devices beside a wooden stool that also could have been from Tor House. The collection was a fascinating mish-mash and worth the visit.
Our second day's 14 mile walk to Craigellachie threatened rain but remained dry. The views when we climbed the hills were memorable and down by the Spey I enjoyed the Victorian engineering of the Boat o' Brig Railway Viaduct over the Spey.
The Craigellachie Hotel where we spent two nights was not quite as architecturally impressive as the nearby Arndilly House below, but it was comfortable and boasted one of the largest selections of whisky in the world. We enjoyed sampling a few!
Full photo album for Buckie to Craigellachie 2026