2018 Moray Way 5 Day Challenge 18-22nd June

Monday 18th to Friday 22nd June 2018

The Moray Way circular route is made up of the Dava Way and parts of the Speyside Way and Coastal Trail. The 5 day challenge starts and finishes in the coastal town of Burghead, walking in a counter clockwise direction. Taking the published distances on the official Moray Way Map, the event milage of 95 is divided into 5 sections of 21, 18.5, 20.5, 18 and 17 miles.  The event participation options for the challenge are either 'Park and Ride' or  'Backpacking'. It is worth noting that 2017 participants who used GPS devices have reported that the actual total distance is at least 100 miles. Until this can be properly verified the published milage will remain at 95 miles.

Please download and read the Moray Way 5 Day Challenge Information pack before booking one of the event options.

There is an entry form on the last page of the info pack for non-LDWA members.

LDWA members can use a SEF and pay by cheque to North West Grampian LDWA, or by BACS payment, details for of which, are on the back page of the information pack.

 Useful links:

  • MW 5 Day LDWA events page  NW Grampiam Event - MW 5 Day Challenge
  • Our partner organisation for this event is the Dava Way Association, details of which can be found at davaway.org.uk
  • Moray Way Maps are available from the NW Grampian Secretary (£4.50 inc P&P)
  • This event is part of the 2018 Moray Walking and Outdoor Festival which runs from 15th to 24th June 2017. With over 30 events on offer, why not come up for a couple of weeks and make a bit of a walking holiday out of it!

 

 The 5 day challenge passport entitles holders to a free hot drink from participating cafés and is stamped at the end of each day's walk

   

It is worth noting that 2017 participants who used GPS devices during the walk, have reported that the actual total distance is at least 100 miles. Until this can be properly verified the published milage will remain at 95 miles. The Moray Way Association have been asked to check their published map milages.

Here is the photo album from the 2016 Moray Way Challenge:

Day 1

Dunphail pickup point for the the Park & Ride walkers
 The start of the Moray Way 5 Day Challenge at Burghead Harbour
 Heading for the Burma Road in the Roseisle Forest. Part of the Moray Coast Trail
 Roseisle Forest
 Roseisle Forest picnic area
 Findhorn Village
  Findhorn Bay
 This is the nearest distillery to Forres
 Walking through the farmland of Logie on the Dava Way
 Approaching the end of the day's walk at Dunphail

Day 2 

At the start of the 2nd day at Dunphail
 Carin Eney wood on the Dava Moor
Arriving at the Half Way Hut picnic area on the Dava Way
Inside the Half Way Hut on the Dava Way
Kelly Kettle tea break
 Dava on the Dava Way
Meeting up with Robbie the Redcoat who is on his way to Cromdale to surprise the Jacobites (1690)
Meeting up with Robbie the Redcoat
The Volunteers for day 2 of the challenge
The Dava Way near Huntley's cave
Dava Way on Day 2
 The new Dava Way SUSTRANS upgrade at Lynmore
 lady Catherine's Halt on the old railway line
Enjoying a free hot drink at Macleans Café in Grantown-on-Spey
 Trying to find the route through Anagach Woods near Grantown
 The restored Cromdale station on the Speyside Way is worth a look
Feet up at the end of the day at the Haugh Hotel, Cromdale

Day 3 

 At the start of the 3rd day at Cromdale
 Heading out of Cromdale on the Speysde Way
 Heading out of Cromdale on the disused railway line that is now the Speysde Way
 Heading down Strathspey on the old railway line that is now the Speysde Way
 Leaving the Cairngorm National Park on the Dalvey section of the Speyside Way
 Some good views up Strathspey from Knockfink
 Not far to the lunch break at Ballindalloch
 Lunch break at Ballindalloch
 Lunch break at Ballindalloch
Lunch break at Ballindalloch 
 One of the many stations of the dismantled Strathspey railway line
 Another station on the dismantled Strathspey railway line
 The old station at Aberlour is now a tearoom and Tourist Information Centre
 There are many distilleries on the Speyside Way. You sometimes smell them before you see them.
 The staff at the tearooms kept it open until after 6pm just for the Moray Way Challenge walkers.
 Refreshments at the end of day 3

Day 4 

The pick up point of the 4th day at the Garmouth Hotel
 Walking along the River Spey just NE of Aberlour
 The Thomas Telford bridge at Craigellachie. It was nearly washed away during the Great Muckle Spate of 1829.
 Strathspey to the coast from the Ben Aigan section of the Speyside Way
Looking up Strathspey towards Ben Rinnes
 Some tired looking walkers at the Boat o Brig lunch break after coming down from Ben Aigan
 Pit stop at the Boat o Brig.
 A well deserved ice cream on the way. Nice to see that local businesses are benefiting! Perhaps it would have been bacon rolls if the sun was not out?
 Entrance to Castle Gordon at Fochabers
 About to cross the biggest railway bridge over the Spey near Garmouth
 The biggest railway bridge over the Spey near Garmouth
 Another fantastic piece of engineering on the Moray Way. It could do with some structural TLC to safguard its future though.

Day 5 

 Burghead pick up point for the 'Park & Ride' walkers
 t's not just way markers that you need to look out for on the Moray Way 5 Day Callenge. This was between Garmouth and Lossiemouth on the Moray Coast Trail on the last day.
 The WW2 defences east of Lossiemouth
 The WW2 defences east of Lossiemouth
 The very long beach section to Lossiemouth East Beach
 Magnificent weather for the last day of the Moray Way 5 Day Challenge. This is Lossiemouth East Beach
 Nothing like cooling the feet off after over 80 miles of walking!
 The long footbridge over the River Lossie, halfway through the last day of walking on the moray Way Challenge
 The long footbridge over the River Lossie
The long footbridge over the River Lossie that connects East Beach with the town
Lunchbreak at the Skerry Brae in Lossiemouth
 Peter, Pete & Trevor, the three walk marshals for the Moray Way Challenge
 Walking towards the Covesea Lighthouse
 Covesea Beach
It's not all sandy beaches on the Moray Coast Trail
 Cliff top path between Covesea and Hopeman
 Hopeman Beach
 Colourful beach huts at Hopeman
 Some chose to run some of the 5 day challenge
 Approaching the end of the 95 mile challenge walk at Burghead
The outskirts of Burghead at the end of the Moray Way Challenge. Well done everyone!
 95miles in 5 days, well done Tracy and Susan!
 Refreshments and a warm welcome in the Burghead Bothy at the end of the Moray Way Challenge

 

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