The Wildcat Trail

If you are wanting to explore the beauty of Cairngorms National Park but don’t want to commit to a longer and more challenging adventure, the Wildcat Trail is a great compromise that offers some beautiful views and fun terrain, all without straying too far from town.

Setting out from the car park in the heart of Newtonmore, you will follow Glen road to the northwest to leave the village behind, before breaking off to the right to explore the forests surrounding Craggan. Heading to the east, you will traverse the hilly terrain until you reach the banks of Allt Lairaidh, at which point you will follow the water southeast until it meets the River Spey.

Here, you will meander along the winding banks of the river to the southwest, looping around Newtonmore and the picturesque countryside surrounding it until you arrive at a fork in the river where the River Spey and River Calder converge. Keep right along the Calder and follow it north, taking in the beauty of the riverside setting before arriving at the edge of Glenbanchor Road. Turning right here, you will follow the road to the southeast to arrive back at the car park where you began.