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Aberdeen to Inverness

From Aberdeen station National Cycle Route 1 meanders through the city's historic streets and lanes, passing the award-winning Maritime Museum and the magnificent gothic architecture of Marischal college. A mixture of tracks and main roads reach beyond Dyce to the start of the traffic-free Formartine and Buchan Way. Small country roads and traffic-free, disused railway lines reach all the way to Banff on the shores of the Moray Firth.

From Banff scenic coastal roads and cliff top paths take you through some quaint fishing towns to Cullen where the route crosses over a magnificent disused railway viaduct towards Buckie. Crossing the mouth of the River Spey at Garmouth, the cycle route leads along small country roads to Elgin where Coopers Park and Elgin Cathedral make a good place for a picnic stop. From busy Elgin streets, quiet rural lanes lead to Findhorn Bay.

Skirting round the market town of Forres, Route 1 courses through Morayshire countryside with excellent views of Culbin Forest on to the holiday town of Nairn. Beyond Nairn the route passes the historic battle site of Culloden before entering the city limits of Inverness where well deserved refreshment is waiting.

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Natural attractions:

    • Moray Firth

    • River Spey

    • Findhorn Bay Nature Reserve

    • Culbin Forest

    • Bow Fiddle Rock

Visitor attractions:

    • Aberdeen Maritime Museum

    • Marischal College, Aberdeen

    • Aberdeen Old town

    • Duff House, Banff

    • Bridge of Alvah, Banff

    • Portsoy Old Harbour

    • Cullen Viaduct

    • Spey Viaduct

    • Elgin Cathedral

    • Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre

    • Inverness Art Gallery and Museum

    • Clava Chambered Cairns

Route submitted by: Sustrans

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Key route details

Region/Area:

North East/Highlands

Distance:

150 miles

Time needed:

4-5 days

Classification:

Moderate

Traffic:

High levels of traffic in Aberdeen, Buckie, Elgin and Inverness.

Minimal traffic elsewhere.

Surface:

Mostly tarmac with some unsealed traffic-free paths

NCN Route:

National Route 1

Start:

Aberdeen Station

Finish:

Inverness City Centre

Access:

Train Stations at:

• Aberdeen

• Dyce

• Elgin

• Forres

• Nairn

• Inverness

Maps and guides

Visit the Sustrans Shop

Guides & publications:

Visit the Sustrans Shop

Links with:

• National Route 7 Glasgow to Inverness

• Speyside Way

• Dava Way

Weather:
Chance of Rain

Fri

max: 20°C min: 11°C

Chance of Rain

Sat

max: 16°C min: 10°C

Chance of Rain

Sun

max: 16°C min: 8°C

Chance of Rain

Mon

max: 16°C min: 6°C

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