Dava Way Show path on map
Start location: Dulicht Bridge, NW of Grantown-on-Spey ( NJ 024 282 )
End location: Mannachie Avenue/Rise, Forres ( NJ 035 576 )
Geographical area: Cairngorms National Park, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Moray
Path type: Railway Track
Path distance: 36.3km
Accessibility info: Suitable for bikes, Suitable for pedestrians
Route Description
The Dava Way follows the dismantled railway line from Grantown-on-Spey to Forres, deviating from it remarkably little. An official Dava Way route map showing remaining railway features is available online, and is highly recommended. For those that want a little more railway walking, there are further short stretches in both Grantown-on-Spey and Forres to explore; details are on the aforementioned linked route map.
Scottish Natural Heritage (now NatureScot) designated the Dava Way as one of Scotland’s Great Trails. The Dava Way also forms part of the Moray Way, a 153km circular route.
OS Landranger 36 (Grantown, Aviemore & Cairngorm area) & 27 (Nairn & Forres)
Heritage Information
The Dava Way was the Highland Railway's original link from Inverness to the south, enabling railway passengers to avoid changing at Aberdeen and saving almost 3 hours travel time. It opened in 1863 and at its highest point, crossing Dava Moor, this route reached 1052ft above sea level.
Although the station at Dunphail was located in an area of low population, its platforms were very long and it is said to have had the longest platform in Britain. This is because it was an important station for the transportation of cattle to the markets of the south. It is possible that the Lone Road which lies to the east of Dunphail was one of the feeder routes to the station.
Subsequently, locomotive technology improved further and it became possible to climb the Slochd and Drumossie Muir from Inverness, so a more direct line was built. Upon that route's completion in 1898, this route became a secondary line; it closed in the 1960s.
In 1997, the old railway line began to see a new lease of life - the Dava Way Association was formed to establish a cycling and walking route. In 2005, the Dava Way was officially opened; it continues to be upgraded and maintained by the Association's volunteers - support is welcomed. In celebration of the Dava Way's first decade since opening, the Autumn/Winter 2015/16 edition of Active Outdoors carries an excellent 10 page feature which, as well as being full of historical interest, provides useful information for anyone thinking of cycling the route.
