The Old Logging Way in Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park, SC

The Old Logging Way

A shared forest path from Aviemore to Loch Morlich’s sandy shore.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Length
10.8km
Time
4.3hr
Elev. change
136m
Difficulty
Moderate
  • High point 347 m
  • #87 of 260 in Cairngorms

Hear the audio tour

Strathspey Railway from Aviemore

Overview

About The Old Logging Way

Why go

  • Passes through pine forest and beside the River Spey.
  • Reaches Loch Morlich’s sandy beach and Northern Corries views.

Heads up

  • One-way logistics require a return plan.
  • The final section has uneven spots and moderate zig-zag slopes.

Map & elevation

The route

Loading the Cairngorms map
Full map
Elevation211–347 m
TrailheadAviemore start of The Old Logging Way57.19015, -3.82785
Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

No specific parking site at the Aviemore start was verified; the route begins on local Aviemore roads. It ends at Glenmore by Loch Morlich, so plan onward transport or a return walk.

Safety

Road crossings occur along the route; the final section includes narrower or uneven path, moderate zig-zag slopes, bridges and chicane barriers.

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 The Old Logging Way, 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

Strathspey Railway from Aviemore
0:00 / 0:35
“You're nearing Aviemore station, where the Strathspey Railway leaves for Boat of Garten and Broomhill.”

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

More stories near here in the app

  • Craigellachie’s Viewpoint Walk
  • A Bat’s Feeding Buzz
  • Cairngorm Brewery’s Taproom and Shop
  • Rothiemurchus Centre, Food and Beaver Trail
  • 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!!!!”
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4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

Trail guide

Hiking The Old Logging Way

The full routeThe Old Logging Way is a 6.

The Old Logging Way is a 6.7-mile point-to-point shared route for walking and cycling, from Aviemore to Glenmore by Loch Morlich. It runs through Inverdruie and Coylumbridge, starting on quiet town roads and surfaced paths before winding through pine forest and moorland to the loch. The published walking allowances add up to about 4 hours 15 minutes. Most of the route is surfaced and comparatively gentle, though its long final section has uneven ground and moderate zig-zag slopes.

Plan the one-way outingStart in Aviemore and finish at Glenmore, so arrange onward transport or allow time to retrace…

Start in Aviemore and finish at Glenmore, so arrange onward transport or allow time to retrace the route. For a shorter outing, the first official section from Aviemore to Inverdruie is 2 km each way, about 4 km as an out-and-back. The full route has road crossings, and walkers share parts with cyclists; allow time for crossings and other path users.

Underfoot, from town to forestThe Aviemore–Inverdruie section follows quiet roads and tarmac or pavement, mostly level, then…

The Aviemore–Inverdruie section follows quiet roads and tarmac or pavement, mostly level, then joins a shared path at the old railway bridge over the River Spey. From Inverdruie to Coylumbridge, a smooth surfaced path follows the pine-forest edge, with glimpses toward the Cairngorms, a short moderate slope and a road crossing. The final 7.2 km to Glenmore winds through pines and moorland. It is mostly surfaced, with a short forest-track stretch, narrower or uneven spots, moderate zig-zag slopes, crossings, bridges and chicane barriers.

Forest history and the lochThe route follows a line once used by forestry workers.

The route follows a line once used by forestry workers. The National Park Authority points out a roughly 300-year-old “granny” Scots pine along the way, though its exact position is not specified. Red squirrels, deer and birds may be seen, but sightings are not guaranteed. At Glenmore, Loch Morlich’s sandy beach and views toward the Northern Corries make a distinct finish; the Authority also notes cafés along the route, without identifying businesses or hours.

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 The Old Logging Way

See it all on the map

Trails that start nearby

Places near the trailhead

Parkwolf’s Cairngorms ranking

Top-rated trails in Cairngorms

All 260 trails
  1. 1Loch an Eilein CircuitEasy · 5 km
  2. 2Lairig GhruChallenging · 30.6 km
  3. 3Ben Macdui and Cairn Gorm CircuitChallenging · 19.8 km
  4. 4Loch Morlich TrailModerate · 5.6 km
  5. 5Meall a’ Bhuachaille CircuitChallenging · 8 km
  6. 6Loch Muick CircuitModerate · 12.5 km

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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