Spirit Of The Spey - Dave Craig

26/10/2024

FOR SALE: Solid but lightweight, clean Ifor Williams P5 trailer with fixed, hinged canopy. Ideal for camping, etc.
Had minimal use. Used only to carry first aid training equipment. Thus, still in great condition.
Regularly serviced. New wheel hubs & wheels fitted (Oct ‘24.)
£850 (VAT not applicable). Retails new £1975 (incl. VAT).
Collect from Newtonmore. PH20 1BA

21/09/2024

Now an annual event, it was a pleasure to welcome to The Spey another group of Japanese.veterinary students from Hokkaido University, on an exchange with Edinburgh University (Dick) Veterinary School. We began our journey surrounded by an early morning, mystical mist but once that cleared we had a beautiful Day ~ blue skies and sunshine. En route we stopped for a tasty picnic lunch, rounded off with a Wee Dram. The good weather stayed with us all the way to our destination by Cragganmore where, by way of a reward for all their great paddling efforts , group members were treated to another, this time, slightly larger dram ~ which, those partaking appeared to very much enjoy!
Thanks to those who set up this river day and for choosing to have the students ‘fly’ with ‘Spirit of the Spey’. Slàinte Mhath 🌊🛶 🛶 🌞 🥃

19/09/2024

Day-5 (Saturday) with our US friends, from below the beautiful Telford Bridge, we set off downstream towards the coast. Once into Easter Elchies Fishing beats, it was very pleasing to witness the bank alight with the wild flowers planted as seeds by Orn, the ghillie.
Entering Defur Fishings we found otter tracks on the sand. The into to Delfur Fishings’ Holly Bush Pool and very productive pool ‘Two Stones’ (Salmon weighing 47+ lbs caught 1947). Moving towards Beaufort Pool we were to realise Delfur must be very short of ghillies, for there was the laird, in the water. holding a boat for guests. 🤷‍♂️
Next significant feature on this section of river are the terracotta cliffs on Braewater Fishings. Glacial debris coloured by having been dragged through ferrous rock. Picnic lunch was rounded off with a wee dram of something rather special.
Below Fochabers, we encounter the aptly named, Quarry Pool, with its tricky entry for paddlers , posing no problem to our confident group members. Then under the Garmouth Viaduct, the last bridge on the river before arrival at Spey Bay where, on the beach, our guests enjoyed a final, celebratory Speyside whisky/gin tasting. Our evening was finished off with a dinner at Aberlour’s Dowans Hotel.
As with all our Spey groups I do hope our American guests enjoyed their Speyside Adventure and when, in future, looking back on it, their memories will be only happy ones.
🌊 🛶 🛶 🥃 🥃 😄 💞

18/09/2024

Day-3 (Thursday) ~ a perfect start to the day for our American guests on their / Adventure ~ being serenaded on the riverbank by the talented Scottish musician ~ Grantown resident ~ Hamish Napier.🪈 🎶 💞Following the Riverbank Recital, kissed by the sun’s rays, we headed off downstream ~ headed for M bbbarypark, with all successfully conquering the mighty ‘Washing Machine’ fun rapid. Sadly no footage of canoes descending the Washing Machine as my phone battery died just the paddlers entered the rapid 😤 🌊 🌊 🛶 🛶 😄

Visit Moray Speyside

14/09/2024

Day-2 (Wednesday) of our Spey Adventure with American guests began with a visit to picturesque Lochan Eilean (Loch of the Island ~ complete with castle ~ on Rothiemurchus Estate. En route we admired the beauty of the ripening barley ~ with potential to be part of whisky in years to come. After a quick visit to the golden sands of Loch Morlich, we headed off for a tour The Cairn (a Gordon & MacPail distillery close to Grantown-on-Spey) where, upon arrival, we were treated to a most delicious soup and (multiple) sandwich lunch. Thanks to all who helped arrange this wonderful visit, particularly the catering staff and our very personable guide, Jake, who delivered an excellent tour. 🙏 The Cairn tasting room/area must have one of the finest views of any distillery tasting area.

13/09/2024

Our US group’s first day on The River, (Tuesday) kicked off In calm conditions and our folks competently gliding past one of the tree obstructions just downstream of Kincraig. However, as the day progressed, things became a little more ‘interesting’ with a reported NW Force-8 headwind. But, once again, our group did well, plugging forward into the wind. That said, we also enjoyed some relaxing moments of tranquility. All in all a challenging but very enjoyable, satisfying day on the beautiful Spey.

11/09/2024

Once ‘kitted up’ with all required equipment and clothing, in readiness for Day-1 on The River, the arrival-afternoon for our group of four American guests began with a visit to the historic Ruthven Barracks, by Kingussie. We then followed the picturesque backroad, over Tromie and Feshie bridges to arrive at the quaint Inshriach Distillery for a look around Walter’s fantastic winner of the BBC “Shed of the Year Award”! This was followed by a riverbank, canoe-top whisky and gin tasting in the rain ~ enjoyed by my guests. 🌧️ 🥃 🍸

05/09/2024

Today I employed an alternative mode of transport upon which to travel ‘downstream’ in running a few errands, which involved my visiting some of my favourite places around and , including the wonderful Speyburn Distillery and beautiful Craigellachie Lodge. Thanks to my good friends at Speyburn, I have a new, delicious whisky which I will have the privilege of introducing to my lucky Spey Canoe/Whisky guests. 🌊 🛶 🥃 🙏

05/09/2024

Today I employed an alternative mode of transport upon which to travel ‘downstream’ in running a few errands, which involved my visiting some of my favourite places around and , including the wonderful Speyburn Distillery and beautiful Craigellachie Lodge. Thanks to my good friends at Speyburn, I have a new, delicious whisky which I will have the privilege of introducing to my lucky Spey Canoe/Whisky guests. 🌊 🛶 🥃 🙏

04/09/2024

Midst the beauty of the early autumn changing colours, the Cairngorms National Park Beaver Officer, Jonathan Willett and I were back on The River, this time Kincraig to Dalfaber, monitoring signs of these fascinating environmental engineers. Consistent with other stretches from Spey Dam downstream, the main diet of the beaver has been willow. Some of the large area bark-stripping seen in photographs here are on Aspen/Poplar. Already much evidence of strong re-growth of willows ‘munched’ over time in recent months.
🌳 🦫 🌳 🌳
NB: Right now, with several tree limbs and actual whole trees in The River, the Kincraig to Aviemore is not an ideal section for novice or inexperienced paddlers. Wood debris in rivers is of immense value, indeed essential to ensure the health and well-being of biodiversity ~ insects, fish spawning, fish (particularly young fish) protection and feeding, etc but on a recognised, key navigable river such as the Spey, clear lines of navigation are legally required to be maintained, by riparian owners, in a hazard-free state.

26/08/2024

My Sunday was spent in a darkened room following Saturday on The River ~ Tamdhu to Craigellachie ~ with four, mad whisky women! I’m sure those who recognise/know this ‘Fab Four’ will understand my challenges and extend their heartfelt sympathies. ❤️‍🩹 🙏
However, in truth, we had a great day. Mixed bag of weather, with reasonable water levels. The ladies paddled well, without ‘upset’ 🙃🙃 and appeared to enjoy our on and off-river activities, including tasty picnic-lunch, finished off with a wee dram and, at the end of the day, a fairly extensive, special Speyside whisky tasting by the beautiful Telford Bridge by Craigellachie. Great craic!!
👍 🌊🛶🛶🛶 🥃🥃 😄🙏

# Aultmore

16/08/2024

On third & final day of this week’s Journey, weather conditions were somewhat overcast & dreich as we headed downstream from the beautiful Telford Bridge, Craigellachie. However, our spirits were lifted when we saw riverbanks through Easter Elchies Fishings lined with wild-flowers. Very well done to ghillie Orn for all his efforts in planting the seeds, in turn giving much needed help to essential pollinators. 🌺🐝 🌍 ❤️‍🩹 Paddling was still fun in the rain but then our hearts were lifted again when the sun came out as we approached and were warmly welcomed to the wonderful Speyburn Distillery ~ complete with its unique, historic ‘Drum’ Maltings. To round off an excellent tour, guests were treated to an extensive 5-dram tasting which included the Speyburn delicious 10/15 & 18-year olds, as well as their rum finish and exquisite sherry-matured, distillery exclusive ~ a fitting finale to another magical Spey Canoe/Whisky Journey. Thanks to my trading partners ~ hoteliers, distillers et al who help make for my guests a great trip ‘brilliant’! 🌊🛶 🌳 🥃 🙏
Speyburn-Glenlivet distillery Speyburn Single Malt Scotch Whisky

15/08/2024

Wednesday ~ Day-2 of 3-Day Spey Canoe Journey in ((typical 🤥) stunning Scottish weather. Water levels low but adequate and my guests performed well in all the rapids without capsize. They were, in turn, ‘rewarded’ with Tamdhu treats’ at lunchtime (just a wee one!) and again in the evening during a lovely dinner and overnight stay at the beautiful Craigellachie Lodge. 🌊 🛶 🥃 👍

13/08/2024

Day-1 of a 3-Day, journey on the majestic River Spey. 🌊🛶 🌳 🌳 🐟 🦅 🦫

07/08/2024

Wonderful news ~ two beaver kits have been born in the wild in the Cairngorms National Park ~ first in 400-years. 🌳 🌳 🦫 🦫

Beavers released in the Cairngorms National Park have successfully bred and given birth to two kits, making them the first wild-born beavers in the

01/08/2024

Very well done to Spey Catchment Initiative and volunteers for the riverbank habitat improvement at Boat of Garten. Please can we have much more habitat restoration, along the miles of riverbank damaged by historic, riverside tree removal and continued unnecessary strimming. 🌳🌳 🐟 🌺 🐝

24/07/2024

Throwback to a fabulous day on The , Saturday 22nd June, with a fun-lovin’ group of Royal Navy personnel from HMS Neptune on The Clyde. Paddled Grantown/on-Spey to Advie Bridge, in beautiful weather!! 🌊 🛶 🛶 🛶 🌞