Speyside Way

Proposed Extension

It's been a long held aspiration of communities in Badenoch and Strathspey for the Speyside Way to be extended from Aviemore to Newtonmore. The new route would bring opportunities such as better off road links between communities, more visitors for local business and a high quality path accessible to more people.

The challenge has been in finding the best route between Aviemore and Dalraddy. After two rounds of public consultation a route was proposed by Scottish Natural Heritage which was agreed in principle by Scottish Ministers. The Cairngorms National Park Authority has been charged with making the route a reality and has entered into negotiations with land owners with a view to securing path agreements. Good progress has been made with agreements but one Estate has remained opposed to the proposed route on their ground. As a consequence, the Park Authority attempted to secure the line of the route by making a Path Order.

Unfortunately the estate objected to the proposed Order and a Hearing took place in public in August 2011, presided over by a Reporter, to allow that objection to be heard. The Reporter listened to the arguments and was also given the opportunity to walk the section of the route in question.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority's statement countering the arguments put forward by the Estate can be viewed here and we have urged the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals to make all the relevant documents from all parties involved in this case publicly available.

The Reporter will now submit his advice to Ministers who will decide whether to confirm or reject the Path Order, or confirm but with modifications. We do not yet know when this decision will be made.