Parking
The route starts at the old railway line behind Grantown-on-Spey. The route information does not identify dedicated parking at this access.
Overview
About Beachen Green Trail
Why go
- A compact loop through birch and juniper woodland.
- A view over Grantown and the surrounding hills.
Heads up
- Uneven rocks, narrow paths and natural steps.
- Can be muddy after rain.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Cairngorms map
Full mapElevation233–279 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Cairngorms alerts
- CautionStorm Boelo high windsStorm Boelo will bring extremely windy weather to the Cairngorms; take extra care and limit time outdoors. - The Park Authority expects the very windy weather to last until Monday 26 October.Official details
- ClosureGlenmore wildfire closures and dangerous treesWildfire damage has closed Allt Mor car park and the path to Sugarbowl/Utsi’s Bridge; keep out of the closed area.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Cairngorms Tour Guide
Your drive to Beachen Green Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Cairngorms National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Cairngorms audio tourRecorded for this area
Anagach Woods' All Abilities Trail0:00 / 0:28
“You're approaching Anagach Woods, where the All Abilities Trail offers a gentle way into the pinewoods.”
Plays on the road 1.1 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Cairngorms Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Grantown Square and Museum
- When the Main Line Crossed Dava
- A Rock with Two Different Sides
- Ivy’s Two Leaf Shapes
- 298 audio storiesacross Cairngorms’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Red Deer, Reindeer, Osprey, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 260 trails, 90 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Beachen Green Trail
The loopBeachen Green Trail is a circular woodland walk above Grantown-on-Spey, climbing from the old…
Beachen Green Trail is a circular woodland walk above Grantown-on-Spey, climbing from the old railway line through birch and juniper to views over town and the surrounding hills. The Park Authority lists it as 2 km (about 1.25 mi) and around 45 minutes; its downloadable line traces about 1.11 mi. It is a short, moderate outing rather than a flat stroll.
UnderfootExpect mostly earth, uneven rocky sections, moderate climbs, and narrow paths with natural…
Expect mostly earth, uneven rocky sections, moderate climbs, and narrow paths with natural steps. The route can be muddy after rain, so the short distance still asks for sure footing.
View and route choicesThe reward is the view over Grantown and the surrounding hills.
The reward is the view over Grantown and the surrounding hills. This is the short Green loop from the old railway line, distinct from the separate 5 km Beachen Orange loop and the longer Beachen Wood circuit from the town square.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Cairngorms
159 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
63 sightingsReindeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
102 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
37 sightingsBlack GrouseMost seen around 4 AMSighting map
72 sightingsRed GrouseMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
82 sightingsPine MartenMost seen around 9 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Cairngorms. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
