THE DAVA WAY

This is a newly created path that runs from Forres to Grantown, mostly following the old railway line. It is still under construction so it is not fully waymarked and you will need to detour around a couple of sections that are not really suitable for horses. It has superb scenery with woods and forests at both ends, extensive heather moorland in the middle and a dramatic valley crossing on a viaduct. The going is mostly quite good and there are many sections where you can canter – interrupted only by the many gates. It makes a good two day trip – ride from one end to the other and return the next day.

Location: Follows the old Grantown to Forres railway line.

Map: Landranger #27 Forres and Nairn and 36 Grantown and Aviemore

Distance: About 27 miles

Going: Quite varied: short sections of minor public road; mostly grassy; some short stony sections. In one place you have to go along the main road for 400 yards (on a wide verge). Some of the gates are narrow and there are also a couple of awkward bridges to cross

Access & Parking: The route can be accessed from many points but there are no dedicated parking areas suitable for riders.

The route is still under development. This means that it is not shown on any OS maps, nor are there any detailed guidebooks or leaflets. Waymarking is also a bit erratic. If planning a ride along the Way it would be a good idea to speak to someone who is familiar with it or do some exploring first.

For the most part it follows the railway line, though in a couple of places it runs on forest tracks parallel to the railway. These sections are well marked and obvious. There are a few detours where the Way leaves the railway line and there are other places where the Way is not passable on horseback and riders will have to detour.

The main detours are:

1 At NJ 041532 in Altyre Woods the Way crosses a narrow bridge, too narrow for riders, and you have to detour through the forestry to the West, leaving the Way about a half mile north of this bridge and rejoining about a half mile south.

2 East of Logie you also have to leave the Way and follow the minor public road for a couple of miles, rejoining just north of the viaduct.

3 At Dava the Way passes some houses and where the path detours through some trees it is very soft with a couple of small bridges that are best avoided. Detour here along the main road for 400 yards.

4 Near Grantown, at Cottarton NJ035317, you have a more complicated detour that is not well waymarked, rejoining the Way about a mile further south.

The middle moorland section is quite exposed and much of the route is somewhat remote and isolated; there are no shops or facilities on route. You will also need a good head for heights as you cross the viaduct at Logie and the bridge over the main road at Grantown!

The end at Grantown is a bit indeterminate. It is possible to make arrangement s for grazing close to the Way and there is plenty of local accommodation and a good campsite.

Don't let the detours put you off – it is a magnificent ride.

September 2006.

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