📌 Newtonmore, Highland
★★★
Newtonmore is the settlement at the centre of Clan Macpherson country, close to the River Spey in the fertile Badenoch region. The clan motto – touch not the cat but a glove – means that the town’s tourist offerings are themed around Scottish wildcats; there are over a hundred models of the rare feline around the town, making a fun treasure hunt for children. Meanwhile, all members of the family should enjoy the wider-ranging Wildcat Trail: a waymarked, half day ramble forming a ring around Newtonmore, taking in several local beauty spots. Highlights include a stroll around the River Spey, secluded waterfalls on the River Calder and Allt Laraidh, and grand views of the Monadhliath Mountains from the northern half of the circuit. You might also see red squirrels, but a wildcat sighting would be extremely unlikely – head to the nearby Highland Wildlife Park for these. The route starts at the superb Highland Folk Museum, to which a visit is also highly recommended.
📷 Chronological photo guide
One of many ornamental cats placed around Newtonmore 
River Spey 
Woods by the River Spey 
River Spey 
River Spey 
Passing underneath the railway line 
Giant poppies 
River Calder 
River Calder 
Waterfall on the River Calder – reached by a steep side path 
Looking up Glen Banchor 
Forestry plantation section 
View across Strathspey 
Woodland on the north side of the route 
Views of the Monadhliath Mountains 
Hut circle 
Allt na Fèithe Buidhe 
Allt na Fèithe Buidhe 
Allt na Fèithe Buidhe 
Allt Laraidh waterfalls 
Highland Folk Museum
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Highland Folk Museum, Kingussie Road (A86), 1 mi east of Newtonmore village centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 726996
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.069452,-4.103793
🚌 Bus to Newtonmore | 🚆Newtonmore (join route on south side with link path southeast from station)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 130 m | ⌛ 3 hr
Features: 🏚️ Highland Folk Museum ★★★★; 💧 River Spey; 💧 River Calder & waterfalls; ⭕ Strone hut circle; 💧 Allt Laraidh & waterfalls
⬤ Moderate | Good paths & tracks, generally well waymarked, with occasional steeper sections. Allt Laraidh section officially diverted due to a landslip, but probably passable with care.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start & Highland Folk Museum – join River Spey bank at 🧭 NN 727994 – follow upstream to Spey Bridge (B9150) – River Calder (with optional, rougher detours to waterfalls) – join minor road at 🧭 NN 703997 – skirt north side of woodland north of Newtonmore – Allt Laraidh – path alongside main road to start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep and lambs, oystercatchers, dippers, woodpigeons, pheasant calls. Red squirrel seen from the car nearby.
Weather: 20°C, patchwork of sunshine – we somehow missed the forecast heavy showers.
July 2021
