Welcome to Nethy Bridge Nethy Bridge lies within the National Park; on the River Nethy beside Inverness Nethy historic , with the impressive Nethy Bridge backdrop of the Cairngorms. Bridge Dundee Perth

Explore Abernethy

Walks

A network of way-marked paths, including an all-abilities trail, provide a great opportunity to discover more about the Abernethy area. The paths are generally low level, with minimal gradients and range from 1.5 to 5 miles in For information on paths, local events, length. Each route’s way-markers have a facilities and accommodation: different icon and colour for easy route finding. Tourist Information Point: The network links with neighbouring villages; Nethy Bridge Post Office to Boat of Garten via the Strathspey Steam Explore Abernethy: Railway and to Grantown-on-Spey via the Nethy Bridge Community Centre long-distance route. Ranger: 07710 387510 Explore Abernethy [email protected] Visitor Information Centres: Before starting out on a walk, why not drop : 01479 810930 into the Explore Abernethy Visitor Centre in Grantown Museum: 01479 872478 the Community Centre to check on things to look out for on your chosen route? Useful web sites: www.exploreabernethy.co.uk Browse the displays to find out more about www.nethybridge.com the natural and cultural history of Abernethy www.visitcairngorms.com Forest and the surrounding area. www.cairngorms.co.uk Abernethy Forest The nursery closed in 1984 as natural The Railway regeneration superseded replanting. Today, The Forest of Abernethy was widely exploited much of the forest is managed by Scottish In 1863 the railway arrived at Broomhill, and for timber over hundreds of years. Abernethy Natural Heritage and the RSPB as a National later at Nethy Bridge, bringing a faster, more pine had many uses including: shipbuilding, Nature Reserve for its conservation and efficient and more reliable means of transport railway sleepers, construction and pitprops amenity value. to markets for timber, livestock and whisky. in mines. The forest and associated habitats help to You can still see the station yard where great support rare species such as capercaillie, stacks of wood stood awaiting transport, just Scottish crossbills and red squirrels. downstream of Nethy Bridge. Light railways – You can help by keeping dogs on a lead the Puggy Lines – were built to move timber when walking in the forest from March to to the main railway line. August, the capercaillie’s breeding season. You can also still experience a trip behind a steam engine, as the Strathspey Railway have reopened Broomhill Station. Combining a train trip and one of our way-marked walks is a great and ‘green’ way to get to and from Nethy Bridge. There is also a regular bus service. Timber! Forestry grew to be the area’s second most important industry, after agriculture. Coulnakyle (near the Broomhill Walk) was once the centre of the forestry operations, and was built in 1765 to a design by the architect John Adam. The River Abernethy means the mouth of the River Nethy and as the name suggests the River Nethy meets the close to the village. Water for power Duack Sawmill was powered by water from a lade which ran alongside the King’s Road. Built in 1860, the lade ran for half a mile from the Duack Burn to the sawmill. If you enjoyed ‘Exploring Abernethy’ then look out for other community paths leaflets covering Water for transport other parts of the National Park. Regeneration Before the mid-nineteenth century, the fast On the edge of Dell Wood, giant Wellingtonia flowing waters of the Rivers Nethy and Spey Picture Credits: Front cover: ‘Exploring Abernethy’ © Sandy McCook. Welcome trees and beech hedges mark the entrance were used to float cut timbers from the forest to Abernethy: ‘Nethy Bridge and Cairngorms’ © Sandy McCook. to the nursery which was established in 1855. to the sawmills or the coast. This was a Timber!: ‘Victorian sawmill’ © The Council. ‘Forest Regeneration’ © Explore Abernethy. Seed was gathered locally and pine seedlings hazardous and highly skilled operation for the ‘Red Squirrel’ © SNH. The Railway: ‘Broomhill Station’ grown for replanting the forest. men guiding rafts and loose logs downstream. © H.Pollock/Strathspey Railway Company. Low-level riverbank path Low-level forest paths with stiles. Forest paths and tracks with kissing gates. Some parts with gentle gradients, footbridge, can be muddy in wet weather. kissing gates and stiles. Nethy Bridge Paths Bacharn Trail road to Grantown-on-Spey via Revack, 5 miles. track Start at Castle Roy path toilets To Grantown-on-Spey car park

B970 bus stop viewpoint all-abilities trail

The Birch Wood circular A short loop through The Birch Wood. Suitable for all abilities, approximately 10 minutes at a gentle pace.

Abernethy National Nature Reserve

Based on Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller of HMSO. © Crown Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence Number 100040965. Map, text and images © Abernethy 2015.

Low-level all-abilities Low-level forest paths Low-level forest paths forest paths. Some parts can with footbridges. Some parts can and tracks. Some parts can be be muddy in wet weather. Varied all-abilities trail – be muddy in wet weather. muddy in wet weather. mix of tarred minor road with cattle grid and woodland tracks with kissing gate.