Long distance
Dava Way
Follows the old Highland Railway line between Grantown-on-Spey and Forres over Dava Moor, linking the Speyside Way to the Moray Coast Trail. Starting from Grantown puts the prevailing wind behind you and gives an overall descent to the sea, with a summit of 320 m on the moor. 1–2 days, 38 km (24 mi), 146 m of climbing; waymarked at all junctions.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 38 km/ 24 mi
- Typical days
- 2
- Total ascent
- 146 m
- Difficulty
- easy
- Start → Finish
- Grantown-on-Spey → Forres
- Best direction
- South to North
- Water sources
- Fill up in Grantown-on-Spey. There is no reliable tap between the two towns; small burns on the moor can run low in a dry summer, and should be treated. Forres at the finish.
- Mobile signal
- Coverage in Grantown-on-Spey and Forres. Expect patchy or no signal across Dava Moor.
✔ Waymarked throughout
Approximate profile derived from per-stage ascent — accurate on total climb and pattern, not a pixel-precise GPX trace.
Our take
The Dava Way is the bridge between the Speyside Way and the Moray Coast Trail — walk all three for a week-long traverse of the northeast, or the 96-mile Moray Way circuit. On its own it is a pleasant moorland walk along a disused railway, opened as a path in 2005 by the volunteer Dava Way Association. Dava Moor has a wild feel despite the gentle gradient, and the Divie Viaduct near Dunphail is the trail's icon. Waterproof footwear helps: Bantrach Wood, just south of the viaduct, is often wet.
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 Breathing Place picnic site at Dunphail, and the restored Halfway Hut shelter
Mid-route waypoints
Navigation by progression marker rather than total distance.
| km | Waypoint | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 0 km | Grantown-on-Spey trailheadAbout 1 km from Grantown centre | start |
| 3 km | Lady Catherine's Halt / Lynmore WoodsRoute leaves the trackbed on a new path through the woods | junction |
| 6 km | Huntly's CaveJoins the open moor; Cairngorms National Park car park above | viewpoint |
| 15 km | DavaRoute passes within 50 m of the A940; cyclists and horses take a short A940 diversion round the settlement | junction |
| 23 km | BantrachBantrach Wood just south of the viaduct is often wet | junction |
| 24 km | Divie Viaduct145 m long, seven arches over the River Divie | viaduct |
| 25 km | Dunphail / Edinkillie HallCar park at the hall; the Breathing Place picnic site | junction |
| 30 km | Half Davoch road (northern arm) | junction |
| 35 km | Rafford–Dallas Dhu road bridge | bridge |
| 38 km | Forres trailheadAbout 2 km from Forres centre | finish |
Day-by-day itinerary
A suggested 2-day schedule. Adjust to your fitness and conditions.
1Grantown-on-Spey to Dava15km
Out of Grantown through the Lynmore Woods, past Huntly's Cave and up onto the open heather of Dava Moor. At Dava, cyclists and horse riders take a short diversion round the settlement on the A940 (SGT and the Dava Way Association, read 2026-10-27).
- Terrain
- Disused railway trackbed and short path diversions. Gentle gradients.
- Overnight
- The Old School House at Dava (B&B and coffee shop, per SGT) — check it is open. Otherwise wild camp or arrange a pick-up.
- Stats
- Grantown-on-Spey → Dava · 15km
2Dava to Forres23km
Off the moor and down through Bantrach Wood, over the Divie Viaduct to Dunphail and Edinkillie, and on through farmland and forest to Forres near the Moray Firth.
- Terrain
- Disused railway trackbed; some muddy sections, and a rougher detour with tree roots south of the Rafford embankment.
- Overnight
- Forres has hotels and B&Bs. Connects to the Moray Coast Trail.
- Stats
- Dava → Forres · 23km
Transport
To start (Grantown-on-Spey)
Bus · Stagecoach
Services connecting Grantown-on-Spey with Aviemore and Inverness
Grantown has no railway station; the nearest is Aviemore on the Perth–Inverness line.
Check times & book →
From finish (Forres)
Train · ScotRail
Aberdeen–Inverness line from Forres station
The trail ends about 2 km from Forres centre.
Check times & book →
Best months
Accommodation
Hotels and B&Bs at Grantown-on-Spey and Forres at the trailheads. Accommodation along the route is very limited: SGT lists the Old School House at Dava, which opened as a B&B and coffee shop in 2016 — check it is still trading before relying on it. Otherwise walk it in one long day, split it with a pick-up, or wild camp under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Night-by-night guide: where to stay →Resupply
Shops at Grantown-on-Spey and Forres only. Carry everything for the moor. There is no regular public transport between the two towns: a school-day bus runs between Forres and Edinkillie, the Findherne Community Bus runs Monday to Friday between Edinkillie and Forres, and Moray DialaBus (book by the previous day) runs between Forres and Dava (Dava Way Association and SGT, read 2026-10-27).
Connect with
Chain into a longer expedition by combining with adjacent long-distance routes.
Dava Way + Moray Coast Trail
Connects at Forres (north end)
Walk the Dava Way north into Forres, then carry on along the Moray Coast Trail — or reverse it and finish at Grantown.
Dava Way + Speyside Way
Connects at Grantown-on-Spey (south end)
The Speyside Way runs north and south from Grantown along the River Spey. Combine the two for a four- or five-day Moray–Strathspey traverse.
Current conditions
Weather at the start point (Grantown-on-Spey)
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:16
- Sunset
- 16:40
- Civil dawn
- 06:36
- Civil dusk
- 17:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 28 October 2026
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Getting to and from the Dava Way
Train and town anchors at each end of the route — on TripSCOT.