Grantown-on-Spey

Grantown-on-Spey is a town in the Spey Valley in the central Scottish Highlands, 20 miles southeast of Inverness. To the west is the "strath" or broad valley of the River Spey, which here narrows to descend east through the Cairngorms towards the coast in Moray. Dulnain Bridge, Nethy Bridge and Cromdale are nearby small villages also described on this page.

Understand
Grantown was a planned settlement built on a grid pattern from 1765, and has long been a Highland holiday resort. Brief visitors include Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II, while future Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi lived here with her young family for most of 1975. Its Gaelic name is Baile nan Granndach; in 2020 the population was 2510.

Visitor information

 * Grantown Online visitor information

Get in
The nearest mainline railway stations are Aviemore and Carrbridge, which have trains every hour or two from Edinburgh and Glasgow via Perth, heading for Inverness. See below for Broomhill, north terminus of the steam-hauled Strathspey Railway.

Stagecoach Highlands Bus X37 runs from Inverness to Tomatin, Carrbridge, Dulnain Bridge, Grantown, Nethy Bridge and Boat of Garten; five buses M-F and three on Saturday.

Bus 37 runs from Aviemore via Boat of Garten and Nethy Bridge to Grantown, every two hours M-Sa with four on Sunday.

Driving from the south follow A9 to Aviemore then A95 into town.

Get around
You need a car unless you enjoy cycling in the rain.

Johnny's Taxis (+44 1479 851375) based in Dulnain Bridge are friendly and reliable.

See

 * The Square is the pleasant broad boulevard at the centre of Grantown, narrowing into High St west.
 * Cairngorms National Park closest section to Grantown is Abernethy Forest, accessed above Nethy Bridge. It's a remnant of the original Caledonian Forest and much is a nature reserve.
 * Dulnain Bridge is a small village 3 miles from Grantown along A95. At its east entrance are several roche moutonnées. The Ice Age in the Cairngorms was a static affair: ice sat atop the mountains and polished them into rounded bare rock, and seldom moved as glaciers to create distinctive U-shaped valleys. But in this area the ice left behind "erratics" - great boulders that look like sheep from a distance.
 * is displayed at the roadside near the rocks - ploughs and similar implements mostly from the Muckrach estate. There's a picnic table next to the display.
 * is a village five miles south of Grantown. It worked at forestry and sawmills, and was called Abernethy until the railway arrived in the 1860s. There was already an Abernethy on that line so the company simply renamed the village, and it became a tourist resort. The line closed in 1968 thanks to Beeching. The bridge over the River Nethy is by Telford, and there's a scenic dell.
 * is a village five miles south of Grantown. It worked at forestry and sawmills, and was called Abernethy until the railway arrived in the 1860s. There was already an Abernethy on that line so the company simply renamed the village, and it became a tourist resort. The line closed in 1968 thanks to Beeching. The bridge over the River Nethy is by Telford, and there's a scenic dell.
 * is the north terminus of the Strathspey Railway, a heritage line. The original line ran through the valley from Aviemore to Forres until the Beeching cuts of 1965, when the station was demolished. It was rebuilt in 2002 in period style, serving as "Glenbogle" in the TV drama Monarch of the Glen to 2005. Most visitors start their ride at Aviemore, and the train makes an extended stop at Boat of Garten for the main collection of locomotives and rolling stock, but you can start your trip at Broomhill. Further restoration of the line towards Grantown is blocked by the A95. As if in denial, the train chuffs on for a short distance beyond Broomhill then comes to a dead-end in the fields; the locomotive changes ends via the passing loop and the train returns south.
 * a mile north of Nethy Bridge is the stump of Clan Comyn's 12th century fortress. It's on a drumlin, a mound of glacial rubble, so it has a good view and is a popular picnic spot where Highland cattle roam. Donations welcome.
 * is a tiny village further down the Spey valley on A95. It was on the same railway line as Nethy Bridge: the old station has been privately preserved. Note the old stone cheese-press built into the wall of the lane. The ballad Haughs of Cromdale portrays the two-part battle here as a bold Jacobite victory, but it was an abject defeat. King James II of England / VII of Scotland had been ousted in 1688 but his forces continued to resist. In 1690 they marched into the Spey valley hoping to gather support, but instead were weakened by desertion. They got as far as Cromdale and on 30 April were met by government forces, who began to scatter and slay them, but a thick fog came down. Next day the Jacobites regrouped and skirmished again but were routed. Fleeing, they tried to seize the castle of Loch an Eilein near Aviemore, but were repulsed by the stout widow who held it. And so ended James' last stand in Scotland, though his son the "Old Pretender" and grandson the "Young Pretender" (Bonnie Prince Charlie) resumed the cause, until it was crushed at Culloden in 1745.

Do

 * Abernethy GC near Nethy Bridge is nine holes.
 * Anagach Woods start at the east edge of town, with several marked trails through the pine forest taking 1-3 hours. Look out for red squirrels, capercaillie and deer. There are also trails west side of town.
 * Skiing and snowboarding: see Aviemore for Cairngorm Mountain Resort, where the funicular railway re-opened in 2023.
 * You can also ski at The Lecht, see Ballater. But it's a very small, low altitude resort, really just for wobbly beginners.
 * Skiing and snowboarding: see Aviemore for Cairngorm Mountain Resort, where the funicular railway re-opened in 2023.
 * You can also ski at The Lecht, see Ballater. But it's a very small, low altitude resort, really just for wobbly beginners.


 * Speyside Way is a hiking and cycling trail alongside the heritage railway from Aviemore to Broomhill, then along the old trackbed northeast via Nethy Bridge to Grantown. From here it goes northeast along the valley to Ballindalloch, Craigellachie, Fochabers and the Spey estuary.
 * Dava Way is a path along the other branch of the former railway, between Grantown and Forres. The full route is about 23 miles (38 km), suitable for cycling, through woodland, farms and heath.
 * Truck In2 Grantown is a lorry rally and parade held in May, with the next on Sa 11 May 2024.
 * Tomintoul Highland Games are next held on Sa 20 July 2024.
 * Grantown Agricultural Show is held in August on Heathfield Park, with the next probably on Th 8 Aug 2024, tbc.
 * Abernethy Highland Games are on the second Saturday in August at Nethy Bridge, with the next on Sa 10 Aug 2024. Don't let Satnav hear of your plans, else it will try to take you to Abernethy the far side of Perth.

Buy

 * Co-op Food on The Square is open daily 7AM-10PM.
 * Cairngorms Farmers Market is held in The Square roughly once a month.
 * Cairngorms Farmers Market is held in The Square roughly once a month.
 * Cairngorms Farmers Market is held in The Square roughly once a month.
 * Cairngorms Farmers Market is held in The Square roughly once a month.
 * Cairngorms Farmers Market is held in The Square roughly once a month.
 * Cairngorms Farmers Market is held in The Square roughly once a month.

Eat

 * Grantown Diner at 24 High St serves pizza, kebabs, burgers and the like, open M-Th noon-9PM,, F-Su 10AM-9PM.
 * High Street Merchants at 74 High St started out as an art gallery that served coffee, but has now turned into a cafe that also sells artwork. It's open W-Su 10AM-4:30PM.
 * Grantown Diner at 24 High St serves pizza, kebabs, burgers and the like, open M-Th noon-9PM,, F-Su 10AM-9PM.
 * High Street Merchants at 74 High St started out as an art gallery that served coffee, but has now turned into a cafe that also sells artwork. It's open W-Su 10AM-4:30PM.
 * High Street Merchants at 74 High St started out as an art gallery that served coffee, but has now turned into a cafe that also sells artwork. It's open W-Su 10AM-4:30PM.
 * High Street Merchants at 74 High St started out as an art gallery that served coffee, but has now turned into a cafe that also sells artwork. It's open W-Su 10AM-4:30PM.

Drink

 * Claymore Bar at 12 High St is open Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-1AM.
 * Whisky distilleries are mostly further east. Those within a short drive and open for tours are Tomintoul, Cragganmore, and Ballindalloch.
 * Balmenach two miles east of town produces Caorunn Gin and offers tours.

Sleep

 * up Seafield Ave west side of town has tourer pitches and wigwams. They don't have camping pitches.

Connect
Grantown and the main roads and communities around it have 4G from all UK carriers. As of July 2023, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * West going upriver, the valley broadens around Aviemore, then climbs towards Kingussie and Drumochter Pass.
 * East the valley descends into Moray, and a string of little coastal towns from Elgin to Fraserburgh.
 * Northwest is Inverness, an agreeable Victorian town, and a few miles east is the battlesite of Culloden.