Bridge of Avon Walk in Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park, SC

Bridge of Avon Walk

A steep, rough climb pays off at a 1754 stone bridge.

Length
6km
Time
2hr
Elev. change
79m
Difficulty
Moderate
  • Dogs allowed
  • High point 363 m

Hear the audio tour

Tomintoul Square, Museum and Whisky Castle

Overview

About Bridge of Avon Walk

Why go

  • The Victor Gaffney viewpoint opens back toward Tomintoul and Ben Avon.
  • A 1754 stone bridge and riverside picnic spot reward the walk.

Heads up

  • Rough grass can be muddy, with one long steep climb.

Map & elevation

The route

Loading the Cairngorms map
Full map
Elevation284–363 m
TrailheadTomintoul public car park, Tomnabat Lane57.25086, -3.37909
Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Start at Tomintoul public car park on Tomnabat Lane by the Square; the route returns to this access.

Safety

Uneven, sometimes muddy grass paths; one long steep rough climb, steps, and a short stretch on the B9136. Keep dogs close around livestock and wildlife.

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
See all 3 alerts
A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone
Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Cairngorms Tour Guide

Your drive to Bridge of Avon Walk, 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 tour

Recorded for this trailhead

Tomintoul Square, Museum and Whisky Castle
0:00 / 0:34
“Up ahead is Tomintoul's village square, where the Discovery Centre makes a useful first stop for local stories and advice.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Cairngorms Tour Guide.

More stories near here in the app

  • Glenlivet Estate Visitor Centre and Mindfulness Trail
  • Queen’s View over Glen Avon
  • Still Viewpoint’s Mirrored Frame
  • Yellow Beneath, Grey Above
  • 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!!!!”
JMJamesApp Store review
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4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

Trail guide

Hiking Bridge of Avon Walk

A village-to-river outingThis 3¾-mile (6 km) out-and-back starts at Tomintoul’s public car park and follows village…

This 3¾-mile (6 km) out-and-back starts at Tomintoul’s public car park and follows village pavements, then tracks and rough grass paths through farmland and woodland to the old Bridge of Avon. Allow about two hours and return the same way. The bridge is a satisfying riverside destination, but the uneven climb makes this a hill walk rather than a flat stroll.

The climb and viewpointLeave Tomintoul on the village route, then follow the track and grassy path toward Campdalmore…

Leave Tomintoul on the village route, then follow the track and grassy path toward Campdalmore and the Victor Gaffney viewpoint. The view opens back toward the village and the Ben Avon tops. Expect narrow, undulating ground and one long, steep rough climb; the grass can be muddy, and short sections have steps. The final approach includes a brief road stretch and crossing.

A bridge with a military-road storyThe old stone Bridge of Avon was built in 1754 as part of a military road across the River Avon.

The old stone Bridge of Avon was built in 1754 as part of a military road across the River Avon. It makes the natural turnaround, with a picnic spot beside the water. The viewpoint is the best place to frame the river with Tomintoul and the distant high tops; at the bridge, include an arch and the river so the photo shows more than the parapet.

Access and dogsThis full distance includes the Tomintoul village approach; starting at Campdalmore shortens…

This full distance includes the Tomintoul village approach; starting at Campdalmore shortens the walk and changes the mileage. Public toilets are available near Tomintoul Square, but there are none along the route. Dogs are allowed: keep them close and use a lead where signs ask, especially around livestock and wildlife.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Cairngorms

All Cairngorms wildlife maps

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Cairngorms. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

Keep exploring

Near Bridge of Avon Walk

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Places near the trailhead

Parkwolf’s Cairngorms ranking

Top-rated trails in Cairngorms

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Take Parkwolf to Cairngorms.

The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.

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