The Broomhill Trail – Down the Nethy to the Spey
About 3 miles on foot.
The River Nethy runs through the middle of Nethy Bridge and meets the Spey not far below the village.
The Broomhill Trail keeps it company all the way, an easy path along the bank where dippers bob on the stones, and it ends at Broomhill Bridge, a long timber bridge over the Spey that has stood since 1894. Then it's the same path back to the village for lunch at Nethy House.
- Time
- About two hours: the National Park's Broomhill Trail, 4.8 km there and back along the River Nethy from Nethy Bridge to Broomhill Bridge on the Spey. An easy walk.
- The path
- Mostly narrow, grassy and earthy paths on a gentle gradient, with stiles.
- Where to start
- Free at the community centre on Dell Road, Nethy Bridge, where the Explore Abernethy Visitor Centre is.
- Set off
- From November to January, set off by 1pm to be back in daylight.
- When to go
- All year in daylight; from November to January set off by 1pm. Nethy House is closed on Wednesdays.
- Dogs
- On a lead near farm animals, and in the woods from March to August for the nesting birds.
- Children
- An easy path for children who can manage stiles; the river runs fast, and there are no pushchairs.
- Toilets
- Accessible toilets at the Visitor Centre in the community centre on Dell Road, and free public toilets beside it.
- Before you set out
- The Explore Abernethy Visitor Centre opens 9.30am to 5pm from 1 April to 31 October and 10am to 4pm from 1 November to 31 March, weather permitting; it is run by volunteers and often unstaffed. The wildfire of July 2026 did not reach the village.
The walk
Park at the community centre on Dell Road, in the middle of Nethy Bridge, where parking is free. The Explore Abernethy Visitor Centre is in the same building, with free trail maps and toilets. It is often unstaffed, so walk in. The Cairngorms National Park gives the Broomhill Trail as 4.8 km there and back and allows up to two hours. It's a gentle walk along the bank of the River Nethy on narrow, grassy and earthy paths, with stiles to climb, so it isn't one for a pushchair.
The path is soft after rain. Dippers work this river, small dark birds with a white bib that bob on the stones in midstream. The walk ends at Broomhill Bridge, where the road crosses the Spey on fifteen timber spans. The last nail was driven in November 1894. Timber from Abernethy Forest was once floated down both rivers, and the railway reached Broomhill in 1863 to carry it away.
The steam trains of the Strathspey Railway still run to Broomhill station, a few minutes beyond the bridge, on most days until 1 November. Keep dogs on a lead near farm animals, and in the woods from March to August when birds are nesting. From November to January, set off by 1pm.
If it rains
It's a low, level walk with no open hill, so light rain won't spoil it, but the grassy path turns soft and the stiles slippery. Nethy House is a short walk from the car when you've had enough.
Afterwards
About 2 min on foot
Nethy House
Lunch
Lunch is at Nethy House, a café in a granite house on the village street, a short walk from the car park. It serves lunch from 11.30am to 4pm, with soups, sandwiches and specials on the board, home baking in the cabinet and coffee from the Glen Lyon roastery in Aberfeldy. It opens from 9am to 5pm and is closed on Wednesdays. Tables can be booked by phone or text on 07498 151519 until 10am on the day, and well-behaved dogs are welcome inside. On a Wednesday, take a flask to the bridge instead.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Park Cottage in Kincraig, 13 miles away. Sleeps 6; next free Fri 23 Oct to Sun 25 Oct.
Where to eat
Nethy House, a café in Nethy Bridge.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by Martin Bisland via Google