Can I ride the Dava Way in both directions?

Yes. Starting from Grantown gives an overall descent of 236 m to the sea and usually puts the prevailing south-westerly wind behind you. The official guidebook describes it the other way, from Forres. Many riders combine it with the Speyside Way.

Is the surface suitable for a hybrid bike?

The Dava Way Association says the trackbed suits any bike you would ride on a loose, uneven surface. The detour south of the Rafford embankment has steep sections with tree roots, so you may need to push there.

Where does the route start?

Scotland's Great Trails lists Grantown-on-Spey as the start and Forres as the finish; the official guidebook walks it from Forres. The trailheads are about 1 km from Grantown centre and 2 km from Forres centre, and the official car parks are in the two towns, at Edinkillie Hall and at Huntly's Cave.

Gravel Cycling

Dava Way

A lost Highland railway from Strathspey over Dava Moor and down to Forres

Quick facts

Distance: 38 km (24 mi)
Ascent: 146 m
Difficulty: Easy
Route type: Linear
Archetype: Railway Path
Region: Speyside & Moray
Start point: Grantown-on-Spey
Grid ref: NJ 034 271
Midges: Low
Dogs: On lead only

Best months

Surface breakdown

Railway path90%
Tarmac single-track10%

Recommended bikes: Gravel bike (ideal), Hardtail MTB, E-bike· Tyres: Gravel tyres for a loose, uneven surface

About this route

The Dava Way follows the trackbed of the old Highland Railway line between Grantown-on-Spey and Forres — until 1898 the main line south from Inverness, closed in 1965 and reopened as a path by the volunteer Dava Way Association in 2005. From Grantown (213 m) it climbs gently to the Dava summit at 320 m on Dava Moor, then drops through the wooded Divie valley to Forres near the Moray Firth. The original line was never steeper than 1 in 70, so the riding is easy, and Grantown to Forres is an overall descent of 236 m.

The surface is a former railway trackbed, loose and uneven in places, with a few muddy sections and a steep, rooty detour south of the Rafford embankment where a cutting is flooded. The open moor is windswept, with views to the Cromdale Hills and the Cairngorms; below it the route crosses the Divie Viaduct, the trail's icon, and passes the Breathing Place picnic site at Dunphail.

Highlights

Dava summit at 320 m, with a replica of the original sign
The Divie Viaduct — seven arches over the River Divie, saved from demolition
Huntly's Cave, a gorge near Grantown
The restored Halfway Hut shelter and the Breathing Place picnic site at Dunphail

Key waypoints

1. Grantown-on-Spey
2. Huntly's Cave
3. Dava
4. Divie Viaduct
5. Dunphail
6. Forres

Cafés & pubs on route

· Grantown-on-Spey (town centre)
· Old School House, Dava — listed by SGT as a B&B and coffee shop; check it is open
· Forres (town centre)

Named climbs

Gentle climb from Grantown (213 m) to the Dava summit (320 m)

Notable descents

Dava Moor to Forres at sea level — no gradient on the original line steeper than 1 in 70

Accessibility

The Dava Way follows a former railway alignment for much of its length — 90% railway path, with gradients typically below 1:50. This makes it accessible to Gravel bike, Hardtail MTB, E-bike. The path is shared with walkers and dog-walkers — use a bell and slow near pedestrians, particularly near Grantown-on-Spey and Divie Viaduct.

Route notes

Ride Grantown to Forres for the net descent and, usually, the wind behind you. There is no regular public transport between the two towns, so plan the return: Stagecoach connects Forres with Inverness and Aberdeen, and Grantown with Aviemore and Inverness. The moor is completely exposed — check the forecast and take extra layers.

Year-round conditions

Best April–October. Parts of the route are muddy after rain, and Bantrach Wood just south of the viaduct is often wet. Snow on the moor is likely in winter.

Key hazards

Exposed moor section — strong winds common, little shelter beyond the Halfway Hut
Steep, rooty detour south of the Rafford embankment — expect to push
Short road sections at Dava and near Grantown, including a stretch of the A940 for cyclists

Water sources on route

Grantown-on-Spey at the start
Forres at the finish — no reliable tap between

Always filter or treat water from natural sources. Carry at least 1L reserve on remote sections.

OS map sheets

OS OL60OS OL61OS 423

Nearest hill

Ben Rinnes

840.9m · cairngorms

View hill

Nearest bothy

Ryvoan Bothy

3km walk-in · cairngorms

View bothy

Daylight Today

10h 32mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:23
Sunset: 16:33
Civil dawn: 06:42
Civil dusk: 17:14

NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 October 2026

Common questions

Can I ride the Dava Way in both directions?: Yes. Starting from Grantown gives an overall descent of 236 m to the sea and usually puts the prevailing south-westerly wind behind you. The official guidebook describes it the other way, from Forres. Many riders combine it with the Speyside Way.
Is the surface suitable for a hybrid bike?: The Dava Way Association says the trackbed suits any bike you would ride on a loose, uneven surface. The detour south of the Rafford embankment has steep sections with tree roots, so you may need to push there.
Where does the route start?: Scotland's Great Trails lists Grantown-on-Spey as the start and Forres as the finish; the official guidebook walks it from Forres. The trailheads are about 1 km from Grantown centre and 2 km from Forres centre, and the official car parks are in the two towns, at Edinkillie Hall and at Huntly's Cave.