EXPERIENCE 9 The Speyside Way: a visitor’s journey Explore the Speyside Way walking route to identify the impacts of tourism and recreation on the environment.

LEVEL CURRICULUM LINKS • Health and Wellbeing: HWB 2.15a, 2.18a Second • Social Studies: SOC 2. 07b, SOC2.09a • Junior Ranger Programme • Mathematics: MNU 2.11a, 2.11b • John Muir Award

LESSON PLAN Background material

The Speyside Way is a national long-distance route A session could be developed for any of the key themes. We have chosen to focus on the Welcoming Trail. We are following the from its mouth at to all on our own fitness journey, there can be moments where there are uphill struggles, smooth flats or where you feel its current terminus at Kingussie. Since its establishment you have everything under control, cruising downhill. in 1981 the route has been gradually extended with a 15-mile spur from to added • Visit a section of the Speyside Way if you can or watch one of the many YouTube videos. in 1990 and additional sections in the National Park. • Take some photographs of the terrain, what you see, measure how far you walk (if you have a pedometer) Its eventual destination is Newtonmore, close to the or make a note of these things from the video. source of the Spey, amounting to approximately 85 miles in length. • Consider access for all - who could or couldn’t access the path and why? • Choose which aspect you will focus on. Make your own interpretation material (PowerPoint or poster) about The route is managed by the Highland Council, what you saw or experienced. Did you see any damage to the path? How could you make the path more Moray Council and the accessible? Measure the area or if you were watching the film, estimate the area. Authority with the Tomintoul Spur managed by The Glenlivet Estate. • Perhaps link to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code to discuss responsible use of the countryside. The walk can take up to 5 days in total and the many • Research how to repair and maintain the path; can you work out the amount of material you will need to repair visitors which it attracts every year are integral to the the path or make it more accessible? local economy, bringing benefits to local businesses. The Moray Economic Partnership records visitor EXTENSION income to the area of £85 to £90m a year, whilst the The Speyside Way themes are: wider National Park reports visitors supporting 30% of the total economy in their 2018 Economy Report. • Landscape (following the river) • Make your own path in the school grounds (there is a wide and varied range of guidance notes or videos about • Traversing history (past to the present sites) how to create a path online). The Cairngorms National Park Authority has developed • Tracks of the railway (abandoned Speyside railway) • Explore your heart rate and other bodily functionality when walking, running or cycling along the path.. key themes for the Speyside Way to improve visitor engagement with the history, heritage and landscape • Whisky river (distilleries) through which the route passes. • Welcoming trail (access for all) REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS

• What did you already know and what did you learn about the Speyside Way? HOME LINK AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP • Consider the human impact of tourism on the landscape, its biodiversity or the local economy? • Did you make your own path? Evaluate how well it went. • Walk or cycle a section of the Speyside Way with family or friends.

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Notes Useful links

Speyside Way Glenlivet Estate map © Tomintoul PrimaryTomintoul School © Base map © Ashworth Maps and Interpretation Ltd 2021. Contains Ordnance SurveyAshworth copyright data © Crown and database right Maps and Interpretation Ltd 2021. 2021. Base map ©

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